I think you will agree with me when I say that our culture does not consider pride to be a vice, indeed it has almost been elevated it to a virtue, much as the ancient Roman culture did. For example, our football coaches scream at their losing teams at half-time to “have a little pride” and go out there and finish the game well.
We are encouraged to have “pride in our work” … pride in our country … why many advertisers even market their product as “made with pride in the USA”.
To do a good job, and delight in one’s work, is not necessarily pride in a sinful sense, nor is the virtue of steadfast perseverance really pride.
Perhaps the problem here is that language has changed. A word, which once was a good way to talk about sin, has been so watered down that it is almost impossible to use today.
So, what is pride, at least the sinful sort of pride? It has many manifestations, but think of it like grasping for something, which does not belong to you.
The first sin in the Garden of Eden was the classic example of the sin of pride, as Adam and Eve strove to become equal to God through their disobeying His directions.
So today, let me ask you, how highly do you think of yourself? We may often see ourselves one way, but in reality, we live quite differently.
Several years ago, host Bryant Gumble interviewed the late poet, Maya Angelou, and he asked her, “What are your goals in life?”
The sixty-something poet replied, “I want to be a Christian.” And then she added, “When people come up to me and say they’re Christians, I am tempted to ask, ‘Already?'”
In a classic “Peanuts” cartoon, Linus and Charlie Brown are sitting and talking about their plans for the future. Linus says, “When I get big I’m going to be a humble little country doctor. I’ll live in the city, and every morning I’ll get up, climb into my sports car and zoom into the country!
Then I’ll start healing people. I’ll heal everybody for miles around!” In the last panel he concludes his little speech exclaiming, “I’ll be a world famous, humble little country doctor!”
Isn’t that just the way it is for too many of us? We’re too quick to proclaim our Christianity without remembering that humility is an essential part of living our faith.
For Christians, humility is an important virtue. If we truly believe Jesus when He says that a life disciplined in humility can grow, change, forgive and love, then we are truly on the path to a new life in Christ. Christian humility is clearly a spiritual blessing.
In today’s Gospel Lesson (Luke 14:1-14), our Lord is having dinner with other invited guests in the home of a leading Pharisee. Here we have a classic picture of …
Jesus’ humanity.
He does what we all do in such circumstances … He engages in plain, ordinary “table-talk.”
Since He is dining with the Pharisees, obviously men preoccupied with the rigorous details of the Mosaic Law, it is not surprising that the conversation turns to various aspects of religious law and practice and tradition.
In the verses immediately preceding today’s Gospel episode, the discussion is on a favorite subject of the Pharisees … keeping the Sabbath according to the Law.
Jesus points out to his dinner companions that there are situations in which strict enforcement of law must give way to higher human values.
He says in effect, “Would you not tend to the needs of a sick person, rescue your son, or even an animal from physical harm on the Sabbath?”
Later on, Jesus has a little talk with his host about hospitality and guest-lists for future dinners he might be giving. Jesus suggests, “…that instead of inviting the same old “in” crowd, you prepare a guest-list made up of “the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind”. (Luke14:13)
True, they are in no position to return the favor, as your regular guests usually do. But your sincere expression of compassion for them over a meal will bring you far greater spiritual rewards than mere return invitations to dinner. Jesus explains to the Pharisee host that he will be “blessed because you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (Luke 14:14)
Then, in the midst of all this table-talk, Jesus chooses to elevate the conversation with His timeless parable on …
humility.
In Jewish folklore, there is a story of a student of the Torah who announced to his teacher that he felt qualified to be a rabbi.
“What are your qualifications?” the teacher asked. The student answered, “I have reached a high degree of asceticism. I have disciplined my body so that I can sleep on the ground, eat the grass of the field, and allow myself to be whipped three times a day.”
To which the teacher replied, “See that yonder white donkey? Be mindful that it sleeps on the ground, eats the grass of the field, and is whipped no less than three times a day.
Up to the present, you may qualify to be a donkey, but certainly not a rabbi.”
In today’s Gospel lesson, Jesus says the person who attends a wedding feast should not be trying to elbow his way up to the place of honor. He says this…
“…do not take the place of honor … take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 14:8,10-11).
On the surface, this sounds like Jesus is teaching us good manners … or proper etiquette. But the key to this parable is that it is not a lesson in good manners or proper etiquette. Jesus is getting at something far deeper and much more profound.
For example, the “wedding feast” symbolizes the Kingdom of God, into which the Lord is inviting us. And the suggested “seating arrangement” symbolizes one necessary precondition for entry into God’s Kingdom … and THAT is to acknowledge that God, and God alone, is to be exalted as the Source and Sustainer of all of life … there will be no hierarchy or ladder of success to climb in heaven.
The Austrian-born physicist, Wolfgang Pauli, is regarded by many experts to have had one of the brightest, sharpest minds in all of scientific history. He not only is exalted for his positive scientific achievements, but also for his ability to spot errors in the scientific efforts of his colleagues. After Wolfgang’s death, one of his colleagues memorialized him in the following legend:
“It was not surprising that God had been waiting for Pauli’s arrival with great anticipation … “I presume,” said God, “that there is much in the world of physics that puzzled you on earth, and that you would welcome this opportunity for complete understanding now.”
“Yes Lord,” Wolfgang replied, “for to tell you the truth I grew weary of watching my colleagues go wrong. For instance, I have always been disturbed over the fact that the proton has exactly 1,836.11 times the mass of the electron though the electrical charges are the same.
Why so odd a multiple as 1,836.11? There must be a reason. But all the theories I’ve seen that try to resolve this question are wrong.”
“Ah,” said God, “I’ll give you the answer in the language of twentieth century quantum mechanics.” Whereupon God handed Wolfgang some papers, saying, “Here is the explanation of the proton/electron mass-ratio.”
Wolfgang eagerly and excitedly took the papers and quickly looked through each sheet. Then he turned back to the first page, took a quick second look at another, then handed them all back to God. “Still wrong,” he said with a sigh.”
This is the kind of thing Jesus is getting at in today’s Lesson.
When He notices some of the Wedding Feast guests competing for places of honor at the table, Jesus uses the occasion to show us the difference between the person who will try to exploit the host’s hospitality for his or her own selfish ends, and the person who will not.
The lesson to be drawn is that our attitude … and our approach to other people is a clear reflection of our attitude and approach to God.
Jesus is saying, in effect, “Show me a person who is always putting herself or himself first before other people, and I’ll show you a person who is always putting herself or himself before God.”
To be fair, modern cultural values make it difficult for many of us to be humble, or even talk about what humility truly means. We are pressured on all sides to resist foundational Christian living.
We are living in an Age that exalts a more aggressive style of life … a life of constant competition. We are taught the supreme value of getting ahead … of accumulating toys because that is what a majority in our society does, and it results in strong peer pressure.
But the sad reality is, this easy acceptance of the way things are in a world of winners and losers, allows one to easily reject the Gospel meaning of humility.
There was a seminary professor who was much admired by his students because he was a humble man who always managed to keep his spiritual vitality at a high peak.
Clearly, he was a man who had found rest for his soul. Clearly, he was a man whose burden was light.
One day, a student, who was plagued with anxiety, came to him and said, “You always seem so secure and so at peace with yourself. How do you do it?”
The professor said that he did what all good Christians are supposed to do … pray, read the Bible, and go to Church.
“And,” he said, “I let everyday things speak to me of God and the sacredness of God’s present moment with me. For example, I walk in the rain, throw my head back, and let the raindrops fall on my face … and then I get a revelation.”
Sometime later, the student and the professor met again. The student said, “I tried to follow your example. I took a long walk in the rain, and I threw my head back and let the raindrops fall on my face. The water ran down my neck, and I didn’t get any revelation. I felt like a fool.”
“Well”, the professor replied, “what more of a revelation THAN THAT … do you want the first time?”
As we seek revelation from God, what is the highest title we can reasonably aspire to attain in God’s Kingdom?
How about this suggestion from the Apostle Paul in First Corinthians 4:10? Paul says we are “fools for Christ”.
Then, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).
How blessed … how truly happy we can be as “fools for Christ”.
For verse 11 of our Gospel says, ” For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 4:11).
I don’t know about each of you, but for me and my family … we are definitely becoming more foolish for Christ as our faith matures. I pray you likewise. Amen