Luke 14:1,7-11 NRSVue

¹On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the Sabbath, they were watching him closely.

⁷When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. ⁸“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host, ⁹and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. ¹⁰But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. ¹¹For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

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Reflection on Luke 14:1,7-11

Inspiration from 2026-10-31 Daily Prayer

The message is very clear. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Jesus constantly challenged the status-seeking and self-important behaviour of the leaders and Pharisees. 

Everyone can relate to the shame of someone who sat in a more important place and endured the walk of shame when asked to move to a different place. You might pray for true humility, which means having a realistic sense of your strengths and weaknesses.