Today’s Gospel, from Luke’s fourteenth chapter, is a classic Jesus story. It’s not about a big miracle or a grand sermon. It’s a snapshot of an everyday moment: Jesus is having dinner at the home of a leading Pharisee. But as always, Jesus turns a simple social gathering into a profound spiritual lesson.

He’s watching the guests, and he notices something we’ve all seen, and probably even done. They’re all jockeying for the best seats. They’re trying to figure out who’s the most important person in the room so they can sit next to them. This isn’t just about finding a place to eat; it’s about social status, about being seen, about proving your worth. Doesn’t that sound familiar?

We might not be fighting for the best seat at a banquet table, but we do it all the time. We chase after likes on social media, we seek promotions at work for the title, we want to be seen with the “right” people. We want to be the one who’s honored, to be praised and recognized.

But Jesus tells us, “Do not recline at table in the place of honor.” He’s warning us that a prideful heart can lead to public shame. Instead, he says, take the lowest place. Humble yourself, and if you are to be exalted, let it be by the host—let it be by God. After he gives this advice to the guests, he turns to the host and gives him an even more radical challenge. The host, like all hosts, invited his friends, his relatives, his rich neighbors. He invited people who could repay him with a reciprocal invitation.

It’s the way the world works—a transactional relationship. “I scratch your back, you scratch mine.” But Jesus tells him, “When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.” And here’s the kicker: “You will be blessed, because they have no way of repaying you.”

Brothers and sisters, this is the core of our faith. This is the radical hospitality of Jesus Christ. He’s not just giving a lesson on manners. He is calling us to fundamentally change our way of living. We’re all hosts in some way, whether we’re hosting a party, or simply opening our hearts and our communities to others. Who is on our guest list?

Are we only inviting people who look like us, talk like us, or can benefit us? Jesus wants us to break that cycle. He wants us to be like God, who pours out his love on us not because we’ve earned it or can repay it, but simply because he is love.

We are all here at this Mass, at this table, as invited guests. We don’t deserve this great banquet, yet here we are. This is a gift, and a call to action.

So, as we prepare to receive our Lord in the Eucharist, let’s ask ourselves: Where are we seeking honor in our lives? And how can we better embody the humility of Christ by serving those who have no way of repaying us? Let us pray for the grace to not only open our homes but to open our hearts to the poor, the marginalized, and the forgotten.