Luke 14:1, 7-14

This is what Jesus is teaching / proclaiming here. What does it look like for those with higher status / honour / privilege to live the year of the Lord's favour?

Year C
Pentecost 15

Sunday Between August 28 and September 3 Inclusive
Proper 17, Ordinary Time 22

Click here to read the complete Holy Textures background commentary for Luke 14:1, 7-14.

 

As I noted in last week's commentary on Luke 13:10-17, Verses 2 to 6 which are omitted from this week's reading are the third and final healing on the Sabbath noted by Luke alone.

Bruce Malina and Richard Rohrbaugh (Pages 284-285, see footnote below.) offer helpful background of "dropsy" and its connection with the following verses:

in ancient literature "dropsy" was often used as a metaphor for greed. It was understood to be a disease in which the victim became thirsty, but drinking to assuage thirst only increased the victim's thirst all the more. ... Thus a man thirsty for money or status is never satisfied with gain; the more he gets, the more he wants.

Thus Verses 2 to 6 serve not only as a heads up that Jesus will be confronting the lawyers and Pharisees about their rules for proper Sabbath behaviour, the upcoming meal will also serve as an opportunity for challenges about seeking after social status, and about concern for reciprocal hospitality - what I do for you now, you'll do for me later.

Personal aside. I had no idea what "dropsy" was - never heard of it except here. The term is a shortened form of "hydropsy" - "hydro" being the Greek for "water." Today it is called "edema" - swelling caused by excessive water retention. This can affect various parts of the body, but dropsy seems to be associated mostly with swollen legs.

Verse 1. It is important to remember, as Luke has observed for us back in Luke 13:22, that Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. And so this, and all reported encounters with religious authorities, are going to clarify and sharpen the division between Jesus' vision of right now, right here, being the time and the place for the realization of God's Kingdom, and the authorities' anxiety to keep social peace as defined and enforced by the Roman occupiers.

Thus Jesus is not being watched closely to see what they might learn from him. He is being watched closely to assess just how much of a threat he really might be.

The ploy of inviting Jesus to dinner would draw him out of public view into the private space of the Pharisee's home and allow them to test Jesus away from the gathering, admiring crowds.

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Click here to read the complete Holy Textures background commentary for Luke 14:1, 7-14.