Esteemed brothers and sisters in Christ,

This Sunday's gospel offers us a valuable lesson on humility. The context of this lesson is a Jewish meal, an event of significant social importance in the Jewish tradition, with a much deeper meaning than the coffee and donuts typically served after our Sunday morning Masses here in our parish. Jesus took note of how the guests were vying for esteemed positions at the banquet, and He seized the opportunity to impart ethical exhortations and wise counsel.

In the Gospel reading for this Sunday [Luke 13:22-30], we encounter a cultural norm of the ancient Middle East that does not exist in the Western World. It's called an "honor challenge," and the Gospels are full of honor challenges. "Honor" was regarded as the highest virtue in the ancient Middle East; it was held above all else. But "honor" in the ancient Middle East did not have to do with one's personal integrity; rather it was the esteem others held you in. In the ancient Middle East, and to some extent today, personal identity was group-centered; one's worth was defined by the "witness" of those around them, not by one's character or deeds.

My Dearly Beloved in Christ;

The words of Jesus in today's gospel reading can be a bit unsettling. He said to His disciples: "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing..." (Luke 12:49) Then again, He speaks of causing division and struggle within families (verse 51). These pronouncements from Jesus seem to run contrary to one of his messianic titles as "Prince of Peace."What does Jesus really mean?

It is not uncommon to prepare yourself when you expect an important guest to visit your home. You may need to organize your living room, arrange the sofas properly, and remove any lingering pet hair if your furry friends tend to shed. Additionally, you might prepare a bedroom for your guest and plan a meal that is more impressive than your usual menu. Some hosts even go a step further and visit a barber shop or beauty salon to enhance their appearance.