This sermon was preached at Glenwood and Canoe Ridge Lutheran Churches, Decorah, Iowa on September 1, 2019. It’s based on Luke 14:1, 7-14. If you’d prefer to listen to it, find it at https://soundcloud.com/stacey-nalean-carlson/.
Luke 14:1, 7-14
1On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.
7When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. 8“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; 9and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. 10But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. 11For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
12He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
I have this image in my head of the world as a snow globe, held in the hand of God. And as Jesus arrives on the scene to begin his work, God starts slowly tilting this snow globe, until finally everything is turned upside down. And the snow that swirls all around our upside down world is manna—bread from heaven to provide for our nourishment as we navigate this life Jesus came to bring for a world in need.
All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
If you follow this thread throughout the gospel of Luke, it begins before Jesus is even born. His mother, Mary, receives the incredible word that she will bear the son of God. And in response, Mary sings in praise of her God: he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly (the humble).1
It’s a blessing from Elizabeth that empowers Mary to sing, and not long later Elizabeth herself gives birth to a son, John. Luke describes John using the words of the prophet Isaiah: the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low (humbled).2
John and Mary pave the way for Jesus, indicating to all who will listen (even before Jesus arrives on the scene) that his work will upend the world and our place in it. With Jesus comes a leveling that extends even to mountains and valleys. There is no place, any longer, for a life that does not depend solely on God.
All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
The Pharisees are watching Jesus closely, not to learn from him or to imitate him, but watching him with great personal interest, observing him scrupulously to ensure their final success.3 This isn’t the first time Jesus has been watched so carefully and it won’t be the last. But in a reversal in tune with the message Jesus brings, it is Jesus who notices them…and uses what he observes as an opportunity to teach them about life in the kingdom of God.
Jesus isn’t in this to catch them doing something wrong and use it against them (as they would love to do to him). He’s there at the table with them. He has accepted their invitation, even though he must have known they were always on the lookout for ways to damage him. Jesus wants abundant life even for the ones who are most opposed to the way of life he embodies. He wants them to know the freedom of dismissing reliance upon themselves and depending on God instead.
All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
It would be easy to dismiss these words, or to perceive them as a threat, were they not spoken by one who embodies this humility for the sake of the world, for our sake. The Christ hymn in Philippians echoes Mary’s song: Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.4
The world is turning and the manna is swirling—grace upon grace—the cross of Christ transforming every table.
Jesus invites us to his banquet. Every place is of equal value here. Every person is of equal value here. None of us will ever be able to repay the extravagant generosity of our host. He gave his life for our salvation. He feeds us with his very self. He humbled himself—for us—and we will be exalted with him.
This beloved world—still being turned upside down by his grace and mercy—will be exalted with him. All will be at the table. All will sing with Mary, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.5 Amen.
1 Luke 1:51-52
2 Luke 3:4-5
3 https://biblehub.com/greek/3906.htm
4 Philippians 2:5-8
5 Luke 1:46-47