22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Luke 14:1,7-148
Sunday Gospel Reflections by Sister Gerry Bolzan

In my ministry as a religious formator, I am frequently reminded that in offering advice/ correction to a candidate, I should always comment on observed behaviour. In this Gospel, I see Jesus very much in the role of a religious formator: he begins by commenting on the observed behavior of those coming to the banquet. He notices how they are choosing the places of honor. Perhaps they are a bit unconscious of the implications, so Jesus points out to them the danger of being displaced by one who is more distinguished. It is very practical advice, although I wonder: Is Jesus really teaching a type of "false" humility by telling them to deliberately choose a lower place?

As in every parable, the message is simple, yet complex. The one who exalts …self shall be humbled and the one who humbles …self shall be exalted. What is this holding of banquets and choosing places really about? What are the "banquets" where I am being called to invite the poor the crippled, the lame and the blind? Today's responsorial psalm gives some guidance: "God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor." Jesus invites me to make a place at the table of life for all God's children -- and to leave any worry about what place I shall have in God's hands.

One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable:

"When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

            This is the Gospel of the Lord.

 

Sister Gerry Bolzan

Sister Gerry Bolzan is currently in ministry as novice director for the Kenyan Unit of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. She has been in Kenya since 2005. Prior to that, she served as Vocation Director for the Ohio Unit for nine years and during the last two of those years, she was also the site coordinator for the Notre Dame-AmeriCorps program in Chicago. Other ministries have included Pastoral Ministry at St. Bonaventure and Our Lady of Guadalupe parishes as well as high school teaching at three Notre Dame schools: Notre Dame High School, Chicago, Mt. Notre Dame H.S., Cincinnati and Julienne H.S., Dayton, OH.

Borrowing from another Scripture passage, she can say: “Lord, it is good to be here!” Her ministry among the young women aspiring to religious life in Kenya is very life-giving for her. The needs of the Church in Africa – and Kenya in particular, are many. Sr. Gerry recognizes that it is good to work with young people who desire to respond to those needs.