A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 14:1,7-11
On 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. When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honour, he told them a parable. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honour, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and 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.
But 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 honoured in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection:
We all need the power to do what we have to do. This power in the world and in Christian faith is granted us. Even a dictator in a certain manner he receives the power from his followers. The problem of the power that Jesus pointed out is the same like the problems that we can have with material things or the search for recognition. It becomes a problem when we begin to abuse what was given us. The abuse of power is to think that this power belongs to us and we use it as much as we like for our own profits even if we have to crush others.
All power is received from God. Without God our Creator there is no power. We have to humble ourselves and He will exalt us.
