Daily Gospel Reflection for November 4, 2023

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Reflection by Lyn Francisco

Today's Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-11

I’m not one to pay attention to where I sit at functions. I look around for a place, preferably at a table where no one is sitting, and then I sit. There may be others at another table who will encourage me to join them, and if I see there is room there, I will join them. Usually, others who may or may not know me ask if they could join me, and I tell them, please have a seat. In the days leading up to my wedding, my sister-in-law suggested that I consider an open seating arrangement. Let the guests decide where to sit. We had a head table where the wedding party would be sitting, but even then, no seats were assigned. They decided where at the table they were going to sit. It all worked out in the end, and people arranged themselves. The organists sat together at one table, the choir sat together at another table, family sat together at another table, and so on. Everyone had a great time.

Weddings may have worked differently in Jesus’ time. The most important people would sit in the front, and they would arrange themselves from most important to least important. What if someone more important were to come along, and the host would want that person to sit at a place that someone else was already occupying? It would be embarrassing to have to move. It takes humility to sit in the back from the beginning and then let the room fill in as others enter. This is also a theme seen in Jesus’ parables.  Those who humble themselves shall be exalted, and those who don’t are humbled. Today’s Gospel reading is yet another example of this concept.

Ponder:

Have you ever been in a situation where you had to humble yourself to get ahead? How did you deal with that situation?

Pray:

Gracious God, help us to be humble in all that we do. Even if it is difficult for us to do so, remind us of the love You have for us as we carry out our day-to-day tasks.

Click to tweet:
My sister-in-law suggested that I consider an open seating arrangement. Let the guests decide where to sit. It all worked out in the end. Everyone had a great time. #DailyGospel

Copyright 2023 Lyn Francisco

Lyn Francisco, an organic chemist by training and education, works with the Office of Undergraduate Education at Duke University. In her spare time, she occupies organ benches in churches around Durham, NC. She also serves as cantor at Immaculate Conception Church in Durham.