TWO MORE LECTIONARY POEMS

Lectionary passage: Luke 14:7-11 (NRSV) -  When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. 8 "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; 9 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. 10 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 honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. 11 For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

MOVE UP, FRIEND

When he saw the guests were vying                                
with each other and were trying
to attain the seats of honor at the feast,
Jesus said that at a wedding
banquet they should not be heading
for the seats of greatest honor but the least.

“If you seek the highest place, then
you may wind up in disgrace, when
your host moves you to the very lowest end.
How much better,” Jesus told them,
to instruct as well as scold them,
for the host to say to you, ‘Move up, my friend!’”

Lectionary passage: Luke 14:12-14 (NRSV) -  He said also to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

AND NOW, TO OUR HOST. . .

How he made those guests all squirm,
as in manner clear and firm
Jesus showed them how good etiquette would look.
Then he turned, as was his way,
to his dinner host that day,
for he would not let the man get off the hook:

“When your guest list you compose,
do not limit it to those
who you think may then invite you in return.
Ask the crippled, poor, and blind.
You’ll be blessed for being kind,
and the righteous resurrection you will earn.”