When Jesus sits at a table, he never sits only to eat. He transforms the meal into a lesson of love, humility, and fraternity. In today’s Gospel (Luke 14:1,7-14), Jesus is invited to dine in the house of a Pharisee. He is watched closely, judged, as if he were under a microscope. But Jesus does not worry about appearances. He notices the eagerness of the guests to claim the best seats, to be seen as important. And then he tells a parable that reveals the heart of the Kingdom of God: “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Jesus shows us a new way of living. In a society, and sometimes even in our own communities, we are tempted to seek the first places. We want recognition, influence, and the seat of honour. But in God’s banquet, there is only one seat reserved: the last place, the place of service. And it is there that we find Jesus himself, who came not to be served but to serve, who bent down to wash the feet of his disciples, and who gave his life for us on the cross. This is true greatness: to make ourselves small so that others may be lifted up.
Jesus goes even further. He tells us whom to invite: not our friends or rich neighbours who can repay us, but the poor, the crippled, the blind, the lame. In other words, those who cannot give us anything in return, those who are often invisible or unwanted in society. This is the heart of the Gospel: gratuity. Love that is not calculated, not traded, not exchanged for favours. Love that reflects the very love of God, who gives everything freely.
This challenges us deeply. How many times do we close the doors of our hearts or our homes because we are afraid of inconvenience? How often do we prefer to surround ourselves with those who think like us, who look like us, who can benefit us in some way? Jesus reminds us that the Church, his community, is not a club of the perfect, but a banquet open to everyone—especially those who carry wounds, weaknesses, and burdens.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us ask ourselves today: where do I place myself at the table of life? Do I seek the first place, or am I content with the last? Do I welcome those who cannot repay me, or do I prefer those who give me security and comfort? The Gospel invites us to conversion, to move from self-interest to generosity, from pride to humility, from exclusion to welcome.
In the end, our reward is not what others think of us, nor the recognition we receive, but the embrace of the Father who calls us his beloved children. Let us then walk the path of humility, open our hearts to those in need, and rediscover the joy of a life lived as a gift. In choosing the last place, we will find ourselves closest to Christ, who makes all things new.
Father Josekutty Mathew CMF
