Introduction
Luke 14:1-14: Today’s reading includes another story of Jesus healing someone on the Sabbath. By means of a parable about a wedding banquet, Jesus teaches about humility and hospitality.
Today's Scripture: Luke 14:13
[Jesus said]: “When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.”
Today's Reading
Jesus Heals a Sick Man
1One Sabbath Jesus went to eat a meal at the home of one of the leading Pharisees; and people were watching Jesus closely.2A man whose legs and arms were swollen came to Jesus,3and Jesus spoke up and asked the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees, “Does our Law allow healing on the Sabbath or not?”
4But they would not say a thing. Jesus took the man, healed him, and sent him away.5 Then he said to them, “If any one of you had a child or an ox that happened to fall in a well on a Sabbath, would you not pull it out at once on the Sabbath itself?”
6But they were not able to answer him about this.
Humility and Hospitality
7Jesus noticed how some of the guests were choosing the best places, so he told this parable to all of them:8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place. It could happen that someone more important than you has been invited,9and your host, who invited both of you, would have to come and say to you, ‘Let him have this place.’ Then you would be embarrassed and have to sit in the lowest place.10Instead, when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that your host will come to you and say, ‘Come on up, my friend, to a better place.’ This will bring you honor in the presence of all the other guests.11 For those who make themselves great will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be made great.”
12Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your rich neighbors—for they will invite you back, and in this way you will be paid for what you did.13When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind;14and you will be blessed, because they are not able to pay you back. God will repay you on the day the good people rise from death.”
Reflect
Reread verses 1-6. In what way does Jesus challenge the religious leaders about the observance of the Sabbath Law? (You may wish to compare this story with the one from Luke 13:1-17, the reading for September 6.) In verses 10-14, what does Jesus teach about humility and hospitality?
In what ways does your community of faith follow this teaching?
Pray
Dear Jesus, you invite everyone to feast at your table. Open my eyes and my heart to those I encounter this day who are in need. In serving them, may I bring honor and glory to you. Amen.
Prayer Concern
Those who serve in soup kitchens and community food pantries
Tomorrow's Reading
Luke 14:15-35: Jesus teaches about the cost of being a disciple.
