Honor, Shame, Humility, and I AM (September 1, 2019)
"...when you are invited, go and take the lowest place
so that when the host comes to you he may say,
'My friend, move up to a higher position.'
Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table."
Have you ever noticed how Jesus seems to uphold social conventions of honor and shame in this parable? This isn't a side of Jesus that we usually see: we're more used to Him overturning social and religious norms. This strange parable should tell us there's more going on here than we first expect.
This was a homily preached on the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time at the Church of the Incarnation at the 7:00 p.m. Mass.