The Character of the Kingdom
The Rev. Canon Frank Logue preached this sermon at St. John’s Church in Savannah, Georgia on September 23, 2018.
The Character of the Kingdom
Luke 14:1-11
“It is not in the most distinguished achievements that men’s virtues or vices may be best discovered; but very often an action of small note.”
Plutarch made this observation about the character of a person, noting that we don’t always see best someone’s true character in the big actions. Plutarch would go on to clarify, “A casual remark or joke shall distinguish a person’s real character more than the greatest sieges, or the most important battles.”
How one acts when he or she thinks no one is noticing speaks volumes about the person. As Father Dunbar challenged in a recent video, we choose to “live by the flesh in greedy self gratification” or “to live by the spirit in God’s glorifying gratitude.” Put more simply, “To live by fear or live by faith.” And I would add that especially in our actions when we think no one is noticing or cares, we reveal how our faith is forming our character.
Jesus tells us in our Gospel for this 17th Sunday after Trinity that in our actions both great and small, if we are exalting ourselves, we shall be abased, while “he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
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Jesus use of meal times also fit within the Greco-Roman and Jewish cultures in which he lived. In the Greek and Roman culture, meals were very important indicators of social status. The person hosting a meal was looking to improve their standing in the community with a fine meal. The people who came to the meal were both those higher up the social ladder who could make the host seem more important and those lower on the social ladder who were looking to the host to improve their standing. If you accepted a dinner invitation, you would be expected, obligated, to reciprocate.
Jesus would have been an exception to the rule. As a Jewish teacher, Jesus would likely have been offered a place at the table to show the host as generous, while offering an opportunity to learn firsthand about this Rabbi who excited the crowds.
While Jesus is often the guest acting as host when dining with tax collectors, prostitutes, and other notable sinners, this meal offers a more sinister setting. Luke told us in the first verse of this chapter that both the guests and the host were closely watching Jesus. The Greek word used here (paraterounmenoi which also in Luke 6:7 and 20:20) means literally to watch from the side. It implies “hostile observation” as it was used to describe someone watching you out of the corner of his or her eyes to catch you doing wrong. As if they have Plutarch’s challenge in mind, they want to trip up Jesus on some inappropriate action of small note while he thinks no one is looking. They show no concern for the man with the dropsy who receives healing, but only for catching Jesus in error.
It is in this setting that Jesus, characteristically, does the unthinkable.
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