Pastor Dan Mangler's Sunday Sermon

The Troublesome Guest

Luke 14: 7-14

September 2, 2007

The Troublesome Guest

I believe that there is a certain etiquette assumed of one who accepts a dinner invitation. These rules aren't written down, but it is apparent to everyone if one or more is broken. Certain things are just expected of one who comes to dinner. There are, perhaps, three: 1) that you will be on time, 2) that you will be appropriately dressed, and 3) that you will be companionable with the host and the rest of the guests. Topics for discussion, for example, which are to be avoided are religion and politics, as these tend to be emotionally charged and disrupt the tranquility of the gathering. I am sure that many of you have been at dinner gatherings where this last rule, that the guest will be companionable with the host and the rest of the guests, has been broken. And if you were the host at that gathering you probably regretted inviting the offending person.

I feel this unspoken dinner etiquette quite keenly in the many circumstances I have being included on the guest list of various gatherings - invitations, by the way, I am always pleased to accept. It is an honor to be included in family celebrations - wedding rehearsal dinners, special anniversary gatherings, baptism and confirmation celebrations, and so on. I really try to be a model guest. I am always on time. I am, almost always, appropriately dressed. And, most important, I try to be companionable with the host and the other guests. If I am with a group that includes strong union members I won't amount a tirade against the unreasonable demands of unions. And if I am with a gathering where company managers and owners are present I will avoid criticizing the exploitation of employees by employers. I will swallow twice rather than speak to avoid offending my host or my host's guests.

As I read the gospel text this morning it seems that Jesus lacked this kind of dinner etiquette. For Jesus, truth was more important than some kind of artificial social graces. He was a troublesome guest, as his host in this morning's reading from Luke was to discover. Indeed, this ruler and Pharisee, after what happened at that meal, must have asked himself again and again, "Why did I ever invite this Galilean preacher to my house?"

Jesus' first offense, as Luke records in verses 2-6 which was skipped in this morning's reading, was to heal a man who had dropsy. In spite of the fact that it was the Sabbath, and that Jewish law strictly forbade healing on the Sabbath (except in life threatening circumstances), Jesus reached out and healed the man of his disease.

Feeling the critical and perhaps hostile eyes of the Pharisees at table with him, fellow dinner guests, Jesus challenged them: "Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well, will not immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day?"

And Luke tells us, "And they could not reply to this." Embarrassed by compassion proving itself superior to legalism, and angered by one who broke the law with impunity, the guests were quiet and the silence at table was deafening.

But Jesus was not through. He went on to chastise his fellow guests for their pride. He noted how they elbowed and scrambled for the best and most honored seats at table, those closest to the host, and warned them by a parable about results of such exalting of oneself. Again, his presence at that dinner table must have been awkward. It wasn't that he was wrong, or that he was saying anything they didn't already know. He was only applying a proverb known to them all. It was just that he lacked the social grace avoiding embarrassing the rest of the guests. He was a troublesome guest.

Nor did the host escape Jesus' critical eye. His final offense was to lecture his host on the proper persons for his guest list. "Don't invite those who can pay you back by returning the invitation to dinner," said Jesus. "Rather invite those who cannot return the favor. Invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind." What do you think that chances are that this man, ever invited Jesus to dinner again?

Jesus was a troublesome guest, and he is no less troublesome to those who would invite them into their lives. There is a gospel hymn which goes, in part, "Into my heart. Into my heart. Come into my heart Lord Jesus. Come in today. Come in to stay. Come into my heart Lord Jesus." A noble prayer. But those who sing it, and those who pray it, should know for what they are asking. They are inviting into their hearts and into their lives one who can be a troublesome guest.

I know that he is troublesome in my life. I read his critical words to the guests and host in the gospel reading this morning, and they disturb me. In the first instance, healing the man on the Sabbath, Jesus proved the superiority of compassion over law. I'm not sure I like that (except, of course, in cases where I might break the law.) There is a dark vengeance in me that says that murderers should be executed, that most drug addicts get what they deserve, and that we ought to arm gangs to the teeth and let them kill each other. I can almost justify those feelings until I invite Jesus into my heart, because there he becomes a most troublesome guest. When I deny compassion Jesus comes with words of love for the enemy, healing for the sick, and the reminder that all children are God's precious children - and I am ashamed.

Jesus went on to teach a lesson in humility. I don't know if I want to be humble. I've been humbled all my life. Shortly after I returned from my visit to Israel in 1983 I received invitations from a variety of groups to show my slides and talk about the experience. One of these was a women's group at a local congregation, not my own.

After the meeting the program chairwoman handed me a check. But I told her, with what I thought was the perfect note of humility, that I appreciated the honor of being asked to speak and couldn't possibly take money for it. I suggested that they apply it to one of their many fine projects. The program chairwoman asked, "Well, do you mind if we put it into our Special Fund?" I said, "Of course not. What is this special fund for?" The chairwoman answered, "It's so we can get a better speaker next year." 'No, that really didn't happen to me, but I'm sure it could have.

In sports, I was always on the third team. At school I was never part of the "in crowd". There is a pride-filled part of me that wants to be first and who, quite frankly, does not trust the host to say, "Come up higher". There is a part of me that wants to put me first in the eyes of others. But Jesus comes into my life as that troublesome guest. He comes with a warning that "he who exalts himself will be humbled, toot he who humbles himself will be exalted." He comes also with the reminder that, ultimately, it is not man's opinion that matters, but God's, and that I need a stronger faith that trusts the host to say, "Come up higher."

And when Jesus tells me who to befriend, and with whom I must stand, I feel truly convicted. Jesus said that his host invited his friends, and brothers, and kinsmen, and rich neighbors to dinner because they would invite him in return.

I'm like that. I like people who like me. I enjoy associating with people who will return the goodwill that I extend to them. It's easy for me to find reasons to be around people who can help me. But when that troublemaker Jesus comes into my life he mercilessly labels that for what it is, self-serving. He comes into my life a tells me whom I must make more of an effort to befriend - the poor, the un-popular, the angry, those who need me, and especially those whom I do not need, or who cannot meet my needs.

"Into my heart, into my heart, come into my heart Lord Jesus. Come in today, come in to stay. Come into my heart Lord Jesus." The gospel readings assigned by the church for the last several Sundays have proven what a troublesome guest Jesus can be. "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possession."..."Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."... Sell your possessions and give alms. "... Do you think I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division..."Strive to enter by the narrow door."

Oh, yes. Jesus is anything but polite when he enters a life. To be sure, in time of trouble, Jesus does bring peace, a balm for healing.

But Jesus does not sacrifice his father's will for peace, harmony, or social grace. It is not peace at any price. Jesus must be, for our sake, for the world's sake, for heaven's sake, our troublesome guest. Amen.

May the peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen.