Twenty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time
August 29 , 2004


Have you ever been the first person to arrive at a wedding reception?

Due to the nature of my vocation, I have never been at the doors of a reception hall when they first open. I suspect it might be an interesting experience. The first people walk in and the entire room is ready for the picking… If that were me, I think I would check for three things – where is the head table, where is the band/dance floor and where is the bar – and then make my seating choice based on that. If I liked to dance I’d sit by the band. If I wanted to kibitz with the bride and groom I’d sit by the head table. And if I wanted to see everyone during the course of the evening I’d sit by the bar. (Most of the time, I go in and pray that there is an empty space…) And then once I have staked my claim by placing my glasses on the spot, I would look for our friends and acquaintances and invite them to join me. Table behavior. Reception etiquette. Call it what you will. It says something about us. It speaks of our desires to be connected to people and to the things that are important to us. Table behavior.

Jesus, in today’s gospel, has an interesting perspective on that “table behavior”. As he watches the mad scramble for chairs around the U shaped tables of his time, I image him smiling, and then, because He never misses an opportunity to teach about the kingdom, he comments. And it is interesting. He doesn’t deny wanting places of honor. He doesn’t presume that you don’t invite your friends over to your house to dine with them (he did that all the time). Instead he says – if you want to be noticed – make sure you are noticed by the one who counts. IF you want honor – be sure that it is honor in the sight of God. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled (divine passive) but whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (by God)

The table behavior that really counts – has nothing to do with what seat you are placed in, but everything to do with your relationship with the host – who is God. So, what matters to God? What do we hear?
· Those who are on the fringes of life matter so much to God. Though you may not find too many physically poor people on campus, there are a ton of folks who are outcast, who eat alone, who walk without anyone ever making eye contact with them on this campus. They are the ones who come late to class, and leave before they ever have a chance to be rejected… Will you set at least a place in the table of your prayers for them this week? Concretely, each time you walk across the UMSL bridge tomorrow, find someone who appears to be having a tough day. Give them at least your smile and your eye contact. And pray for them the rest of your walk to where ever you are going.
· Jesus humbled himself even to accepting death on the cross. He found his identity in doing the will of his Father. That was his place at the table – to be obedient to the will of God. How is God calling you to obedience this week? What invitation to worship or service or love of your neighbor or love of God do you feel yourself being invited to? What is your place at the table?

Maybe someday I will be the first one in the reception hall. I doubt it. But it doesn’t matter. As long as I can be in the hall where God is the host - then all shall be well. Even if I have to sit in the back corner, away from the bar and the band and the head table – so long as I am in the presence of God – it will be enough. And the good news is that tonight, that is exactly where we are – here around this table of grace and love. All are welcome. All are welcome in this place.