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

Nurse Tamika Dennis, by Tim Okamura 2020 © Courtesy of the artist, Tim Okamura

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 30th October 2021 - Luke 14:1,7-11

Now 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.'

Reflection on the Painting

Most societies around the world have honours lists, hand out medals for bravery, award special titles or ranks, etc… These positions of importance can be sought and coveted. But we all know people who deserve such recognition but rarely get it. It just made me think of all the brave nurses and doctors who over these past few years have put so much into the well-being of society during the pandemic. All need recognition. All need to be thanked. They served with humble hearts, without counting their personal cost or looking for rewards.

The Lord invites all these people onto His table. He wants to fill his table with people who are humble and meek. The kind of humility Jesus is talking about in our Gospel reading today was described well by William Temple, a former Archbishop of Canterbury (1881-1944): "Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. It means freedom from thinking about yourself at all."

In our 21st-century world, fame, money, power and status are held in the highest esteem. Two thousand years after Christ, people still want to sit at the best table in the highest place. But Jesus reverses this completely. He encourages us to live simple lives and be content with what has been given to us. Out of that we then can serve in all humility, just like the nurse painting in our work of art by Tim Okamura. Tim is a Canadian artist generally depicting African-American portraits in urban settings. His graffiti-like painterly style adds grittiness to his works. The look in the nurse's eyes is striking. We don't quite know what she is thinking. Is she starting her shift, or is she taking off her mask after a long day's work? She would definitely deserve a seat at a table of honour!

LINKS

Today's story - https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/975
Christian Art - www.christian.art/