Text: Luke 14.1, 7-14

In this gospel lesson, Jesus tells two stories about life around the table: where one should sit, and who should be invited. The two stories have similar points, one being that one ought to take the place of humility, the other being that the humble are invited -- welcomed -- to the table. Yet if we stop at this level, we are missing something. We're missing the point that the host who invites people of all walks of life to the table is none other than Jesus Christ, who has assured us that no matter what, Jesus makes a place for us at the table, where he will nourish us and strengthen us, heal us and forgive us, console us and bear us to himself.