The First Places

 "One Sabbath JESUS had gone to eat a meal in the house of a leading Pharisee, and HE was carefully watched.

JESUS then told a parable to the guests, for HE had noticed how they tried to take the places of honor.  And HE said, 'When you are invited to a wedding party, do not choose the best seat.  It may happen that someone more important than you has been invited; and your host, who invited both of you, will come and say to you, 'Please give this person your place.'  What shame is yours when you take the lowest seat!

Whenever you are invited, go rather to the lowest seat, so that your host may come and say to you, 'Friend, you must come up higher.'  And this will be a great honor for you in the presence of all the other guests.  For whoever makes himself out to be great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.'" - Luke 14:1. 7-11 

(Here JESUS develops a biblical proverb inviting us to be modest in social gatherings [Proverbs 25:6-7].  Such behavior befits GOD's children.  Whatever the area of human activity may be, we should let others seek the first place, while stepping on other people as they do so.  We know that what matters is not what is seen: GOD knows how to exalt the humble and place them where it best suits him.

Moreover, when we go from the earthly church to the kingdom of heaven, there will be changes in who occupies the first places.  Someone who was pope, or bishop or a prominent "Catholic" may count less than the little old lady who was selling newspapers.)

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