Today's Gospel in Art - The man who humbles himself will be exalted

Resolution, by Joel Rea, 2014, © Joel Rea

Gospel of 1st September 2019 - Luke 14: 1,7-14

On a sabbath day Jesus had gone for a meal to the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely. He then told the guests a parable, because he had noticed how they picked the places of honour. He said this, 'When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take your seat in the place of honour. A more distinguished person than you may have been invited, and the person who invited you both may come and say, "Give up your place to this man." And then, to your embarrassment, you would have to go and take the lowest place. No; when you are a guest, make your way to the lowest place and sit there, so that, when your host comes, he may say, "My friend, move up higher." In that way, everyone with you at the table will see you honoured. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the man who humbles himself will be exalted.'

Then he said to his host, 'When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not ask your friends, brothers, relations or rich neighbours, for fear they repay your courtesy by inviting you in return. No; when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; that they cannot pay you back means that you are fortunate, because repayment will be made to you when the virtuous rise again.'

Reflection on the Hyper Realist Painting

In the readings of this past week we saw a different side to Jesus. Normally we read how compassionate He is and forgiving, but the recent readings have shown us how upset he gets when he faces hypocrisy and egocentricity. We live in a world which values success, competition and honour, and which doesn't enough help those less well off and the weaker in society. Listening to the words of Jesus in today's reading, He again stresses this point:

to read on see: www.christianart.today/daily-gospel-reading/160