The Parable of the Lowest Place

What is this parable?

One sabbath, Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees (cf. Lk 14:1). “He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.” (Lk 14:7). In those days, the places near the host were places of honor, and everyone wanted to sit there.

The story

Jesus says: when you are invited to a wedding banquet, do not take the place of honor. If a more important guest arrives, the host may have to say to you: “Give your place to this man” (Lk 14:9). Then you would be embarrassed and have to go down to the lowest place.

Instead, go and take the lowest place. The host will come and say: “My friend, move up to a higher position.” (Lk 14:10). Then you will be honored in front of everyone at the table.

The card shows the moment when the host takes the hand of the humble guest sitting on a low cushion near the door and invites him up to the place of honor, while the other guests at the table watch. The Gospel does not tell of the handclasp, the seat by the door or the red cushion; these are details the artist added.

What does Jesus want to teach you?

The Lord is not teaching you a trick for getting praised. He is teaching you a way of the heart: being humble and not thinking you are better than others. The host helps you think of God: he sees those who live humbly and lifts them up (cf. Lk 1:52). Jesus himself lived like this: he was the Master, yet he lived among his disciples “as the one who serves” (Lk 22:27). Right after this parable, the Lord also taught us to invite to our feasts the poor, who cannot invite us back (cf. Lk 14:12-14).

A lesson for you

• At school and at home, do not push to get the best seat or the tastiest share; let others have it.
• Do not show off; when someone praises you, thank God.
• Make a point of inviting a shy classmate or a new student to sit with you.