Imagine you are a famous actor or actress. Your most recent movie was a box office bombshell. Critics can’t stop praising you on your marvelous talent. Your movie received rave reviews. You’ve been a favored guest on numerous talk shows. You are attending the annual Academy Awards event because you have been nominated for an award. As you walk the red carpet you are overwhelmed by flashing cameras and screaming adoring fans chanting your name. You make your way to your seat inside the Kodak Theatre. The air is charged with expectation. The evening progresses and your category is announced. This winning moment could catapult your career to new heights. You hear those four important words, “…and the winner is…” You rise from your seat, beaming, ready to receive your award. But wait! It isn’t your name that was called! It’s someone elses!How dare they! Your performance was exquisite. What could they be thinking?
You immediately plop back into your seat, extremely embarrassed knowing you have committed a serious faux pas that will be fodder for comedians, late night TV, tabloids and YouTube.
Similarly, in Luke , some of the guests who have been invited to a wedding banquet consider themselves lofty, yet lack humility and assume that they are to take the choicest seats.
Luke 14: 8-10 “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; and the host that invited both of you may come to you and say, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place.”
How awkward can that be? To be told that you’re not as important as you thought you were. In this parable Jesus points out the selfishness and haughtiness of these guests.
These guests are wrought with the burden of Pride. With pride there is the constant fear that the real “you” will be discovered and that “you” won’t measure up to the standards set by other prideful people. Jesus further discloses that those in positions considered esteemed should humble themselves to those who are considered to be lowly. Humility frees us from thinking only of ourselves and allows us to be ourselves. By being a servant to others we are a servant of the Lord.
Luke 14: 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
SCRIPTURE
Jeremiah 2:4-13Psalm 81:1, 10-16
Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
Luke 14:1, 7-14
ANNOUNCEMENTS
You honor us by your presence in worship today. Let us know if there is anything you need to feel more at home. Also, please fill out a visitor’s card and place it in the alms basin or hand it to the priest. We would love to have you join us for any of the upcoming events and activities.
COVERED DISH lunch- September 5, 2010 after church. The Finleys are organizing this event.
ICE CREAM SOCIAL- September 26, 2010, 2:00-4:00As an act of warmth and welcome, and service and evangelism for our neighbors, we are hosting an ice cream social. The outreach and evangelism committee is organizing this. See Deacon Foster for details.
OPEN HOUSE- for the Rectory Resource Center will be held October 10, 2010. More details laterTEACHER TRAINING - for Children's Christian Education classes will be at 9:00 on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11. Friend of St. Mark's and experienced Christian educator, Leslie Lynch will train us. Parents are encouraged to attend.
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