Reflections for Youth - Dinner with Jesus

Do you have a certain place at your table at home where you always sit?

If you have a guest come over—where do they sit?

Our Gospel lesson from Luke for this week tells about a time when Jesus was eating with friends.

Read Luke 14: 1, 7-14

It was on the Sabbath Day, and Jesus was invited to dinner at the home of a Pharisee leader.

Remember the Pharisee's were the experts in the rules and followed God’s laws  - and they were always watching Jesus very closely to see if he was messing up.

At the dinner, Jesus watched the people scramble to get the best seats at the table. 

And then he told the dinner guests this story:

"When someone invites you to a wedding dinner, do not go right in and try to sit next to the bride and groom in the place of honor.  That place may be saved for someone else. Instead—sit in the least important seat. 

People who make themselves important will be last, and people who do not make themselves important will be first. “

Jesus also had some advice for the host of the dinner. Jesus said: “When you give a dinner party, don’t invite people like you, your family, or rich neighbors. Invite people who are poor, who can not walk, or who are blind. You will be blessed because they can not invite you in return.”

In this passage the Pharisees are watching Jesus very carefully to see how close Jesus will sit to the person who is having everyone over for the dinner. Perhaps they thought that the closer Jesus sat to the host, the more important Jesus thought of himself.

Here is what I am thinking about what Jesus may have been trying to teach.  God already loves us, no matter what. God offers us God's grace, love, respect, and honor so we don't have to chase after if or try to get it from other people.  We don't need to scramble to get the best seat at the table to receive these gifts.  But, we can share these gifts. Offering others grace, love, respect, and honor can help us show other people what God is like. 

Who can you save a seat for? Who can you invite to the table?