[Propertalk] Sermon tidbits for Luke 14 for Aug. 29 - II

[Joe Parrish]

It turns out that there were three types of tickets sold. The first class, which, of course, was the most expensive, entitled the ticket owner to remain in the stagecoach no matter what conditions might be faced. When you got the most expensive ticket, what this meant is that you were exempt from having to put forth any kind of effort. A second-class ticket meant that if difficulty arose, you had to get out and walk alongside the stagecoach until the difficulty could be resolved. The cheapest ticket-the third-class one-called on the holder to take responsibility for the difficulty. This meant they not only had to get out of the coach when there was a problem, but they also had to, alongside the driver, get down in the mud and do whatever had to be done so that the vehicle could either get through the mud or get up the hill. They were required what today we would call "sweat equity" as part of being a third-class holder of a ticket. Needless to say, this was the least prestigious of all the categories.
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This servant willingness represents the highest of all values. And one is free to live in this way by the realization that our worth as human beings comes from an act of God and not from our own competitive achievements. What was said of Jesus is the deepest truth about each one of us. We, too, came from God and are going to God. Our worth is given to us as a gift, and realizing this in the depths of our being, is the great freeing reality.

http://day1.org/448-gods_first_class

John R. Claypool, 2004
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Humility is one of the hallmarks of a person of authentic faith and a central principle in the kingdom of God. Luke 18:14 details the story of how a Pharisee and a sinner went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee suggests to God that he is so thrilled he is not a wretch like the man who prays beside him. On the other hand, the sinner can do nothing but hang his head and beg for God's mercy. Jesus responds, "I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."
James spells out how it is that humility is the way of advancement with God. "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you." [4:10]

http://www.lectionarysermons.com/september_2_01.htm

John Jewell, 2001
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...they passed a homeless man selling a bi-weekly paper, the proceeds from which went to help the homeless. The parents looked the other way and urged their children to move quickly. When the daughter asked why they didn't buy the paper, the Dad responded, "That's just a rip off. If those people would just get jobs, we wouldn't have to put up with them in front of our church. They don't belong here so we shouldn't encourage them." The dad, who prided himself on being an excellent reader, was quite pleased when people told him how well he presented the words from Sirach about the need for humility.

http://www.agreeley.com/hom01/sept02.htm

Mary Durkin
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I was told by the coordinator of the reception that I was allowed to bring one person to the event with me. I asked my wife, but she said that she preferred to stay home with our young daughter, and so I was planning to go alone. At the last minute I decided to call a person I was trying to "get in good with" (a writer for the paper who was and up-and-coming man about town) and invite him along. When I mentioned this to the coordinator, she was immediately highly bothered. She said to me, "Bill, these are highly orchestrated affairs. If I invite 'X' (my guest), I have to invite 'Y' (who was "X's" boss) and I don't have room for 'Y," because I have to invited "A, B, and C" who are trustees of "D" corporation." In other words, I had entered into a most tangled mass of mutual obligation-- a mass of commitments that I really didn't understand or know about. 

http://www.drbilllong.com/LectionaryII/Lk14.html

Bill Long, 2007
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I ran across the floor plan of an Episcopal Church in Cambridge or Boston. I could easily make out where the pulpit was, the pews, the chancel, etc., but what riveted my attention was the fact that the pews were "rented" pews. That is, instead of having a "freewill offering" each week (I wonder when that practice caught on?), the standard practice was for people to "rent" a pew. This then became the family pew, and the Church could meet its budget. What was fascinating to me as I studied the chart was that there were dollar amounts put in for the various pews. And most pews were assessed at different rates. The most expensive pews (ah, which pews do you think would be the most expensive ones?--maybe those in the last row, as a way of discouraging people from sitting there?!) were those about five rows from the pulpit, right in front of the pulpit. Eye contact could easily be made with the preacher from these seats. Then the "prices" of the pews declined as you moved away from direct or straight-ahead eye contact with the minister while he was in the pulpit. Humans have an almost instinctive need to recognize places of honor and access. 
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This is reminiscent of the story told to me by a friend who used to be a college president in the midwest. One day he said he was at lunch with one of his trustees talking about the college, when the trustee said something, and immediately took a little black book out of his pocket. He opened it, hastily scribbled something down, and then returned to the meal with my friend. My friend asked him, "What is that book you keep?" The man said, "It is my 'I-owe' book. In this book I keep track of all the ways I am indebted to people and what everyone owes me." 

http://www.drbilllong.com/LectionaryII/Lk14II.html

Bill Long, 2007
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