Arulvakku

29.10.11 SELF ESTIMATION

Posted under Reflections on October 29th, 2011 by

On a sabbath he went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully.

He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, 'Give your place to this man,' and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, 'My friend, move up to a higher position.' Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (Lk 14:1,7-11 )

 

 

Jesus was not opposed by Pharisees in general as we would often think. He had few friends among the Pharisees as well. (There was Nicodemus, Simon etc) Here it is said as a leading Pharisee. Jesus dined with them would only add to say that he had fellowship and relationship with them. There Pharisees who agreed to Jesus’ teachings and preaching but could not follow him because of the society or posts or positions.

 

In the parable he brings out the same idea. People were giving importance o places of honor. Only the host knows the people whom he has invited for the feast and he only knows the people of importance. It is he, at the end of it all, arranges people according to the order of preferences. He has the list of honor that he wants to give to his invitees.

 

Invited guests may have their own idea about themselves and their relationship with the host. They might think that they are the people of importance. Jesus tells his listeners not to under estimate others. Under estimation or over estimation of the self is wrong in the place where one is invited. One should always think that the other is better than oneself.  

28.10.11 APOSTLES, DISCIPLES AND PEOPLE

Posted under Reflections on October 29th, 2011 by

In those days he departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground. A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured. Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all. (Lk 6:12-19)

 

 

Jesus had a group of disciples who followed him always. They were with him wherever he went and listened to his teaching and served him. Did they have any special job to do? Whenever Jesus wanted them to go ahead prepare for his coming they went earlier on to prepare for his coming. The seventy two whom he sent probably belonged to this group. There was a sizable number of people who were his disciples.

 

From among the disciples he chose the twelve apostles. They were for a special purpose. Their choice was preceded by a night-long prayer. Choosing them as apostles was something special. He discerned the will of God and prayed for them as well. When he came down after prayer he named them. This was not so for the disciples. The apostles had a special character.

 

There was also a large number of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon. These people came to him to hear him and also to be healed of diseases. These people came with persons who were possessed by demons so that he might relieve them of the demons. The people came specially to be healed and be relieved of evil spirits.       

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