Posts Tagged ‘Psalm 94:14-19’

Romans 11:1-6, 11-12, 25-29; Psalm 94:14-19; Luke 14:1, 7-11

Just a few minutes ago, the prayers, thoughts and desires—individually and corporately—which we bring to the Lord’s Table today were ‘collected’ with these words: “…increase in us the gifts of faith, hope and charity…make us love what you command” (Collect for Proper 25, BCP 1979).

The portion of Luke’s gospel proclaimed today tells of one of several incidents remembered on an occasion when Jesus went to a house of a leader of Pharisees to eat a meal on the Sabbath. We are also told, “…they were watching him closely.”  The context of this observation would suggest a kind of surveillance with less than charitable intent toward Jesus, and not a few presuppositions and already-formed opinions about him.  Jesus, we are told, is observing, taking notice of the behavior of the guests, as they jockey for places of honor at the banquet. Read More