Luke 14:1, 7-14... Lectionary for September 1.
Leaders of the Pharisees in Jesus' time were at the height of power and status, and working on their wealth by whatever means possible.
Jesus was invited to eat at this one's home, which was an intimate sharing, but he was being watched at this large gathering of folk vying for status according to Empire values.
Jesus was not buying it.
As often is the case, the Jesus of Luke took the opportunity to teach Kingdom of God values in the face of what was being lived in empire.
Every person has enough status. If you have a healthy concept of and love for self, you have enough esteem for self to feel comfortable among other people. You have enough power to feel secure. You have enough self-respect to feel equal to others. You do not need to be elevated "above" others in order to feel good about yourself. If you do need that, then you are compensating for a lack of self love, self-esteem, power and/or self-respect.
Empire tears down. It sets up falsehoods in community in order to destroy it. It starts with the belief that people who "would be someone" should have more wealth, power and status than others. It divides and destroys healthy community by separating out and pitting against. The natural result is that those who are most neurotically in need of elevating themselves become the most ruthless in community and elevate themselves by whatever means necessary. They set up a scenario in which some get much more than they need and others go without, in which some believe they are superior because they are desperate to believe that, and in which some ruthlessly control others around them in order to hold onto the delusion that it is best for some to have and leave others without what they need. They set up a religious community which mirrors empire, considering some to be more blessed and highly favored than others and ignoring the immorality of greed, lust for power and desire for status, ultimately making those within it to focus on personal gain, rather than community of faith well-being as God's Will.
The Kingdom builds up, not just individuals but also community. It comes from a belief that each has shalom when ALL have shalom (completeness, wholeness and well-being). It is all about sharing the wealth, having a collective power that elevates all equally and lifting up healthy selves so that there need not be any status "above" others, because each feels secure so all can feel secure. It is based on all, equally having ENOUGH of what they need and not everything they want. It rejects the values of greed, lust for power and desire for status upon which empire is built. It is built, not on neurotic personal deficit, but healthy self and community awareness. It is built on agape (active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially the most vulnerable). It lifts up, brings up, helps up and builds up the whole community and not just some. It unites instead of dividing. It is sustainable and not destructive. This is Jesus' Way. Throughout the Gospels, this is Jesus' Way.
So, Jesus went into the midst of those who promote, promulgate and profit from empire, and taught them a different perspective. It must start with individuals understanding that humility is a better than hubris. It must start with individuals deciding to elevate those around them by humbling themselves, and in so doing, finding their safety and security in being a part of community in love. It must start by recognizing that Kingdom values are healthy, uplifting and sustainable for living in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now, and making the choice to adopt, heed and live them in the world around you.
Want to be a follower of Jesus?
Follow Jesus.
Pastor Jamie
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