13th Week of Pentecost readings Wednesday

1 John 2:12-20
I am writing to you, children, because your sins have been forgiven for his name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have conquered the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong and the word of God remains in you, and you have conquered the evil one. Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world. Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever. Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. Thus we know this is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really of our number; if they had been, they would have remained with us. Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number. But you have the anointing that comes from the holy one, and you all have knowledge.

Luke 14:7-11
He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus is not giving us etiquette advice. Rather, Jesus is giving us life advice- if we are humble, God will exalt us. However, this exaltation does not bwcome pride, but rather a glorified humility we are exalted by God and do not exalt ourselves. It is not humility if pride drives us to “etiquette humility”, it is humility to recieve from the Lord in grayitude and love.

Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
Christ,
cornerstone and foundation of our lives,
by your hand we are carved,
in your keeping we are secure,
and by your divine power we are upheld.
When the winds of evil blow, and the storm rages on the
great abyss,
when the rains fall upon the mountains and over the proud
creatures,
may the torrents of our sins not sweep us away to die in our faults.
Remember that you have become part of us, and we of you.
Grant us to praise your unspeakable power,
now and forever.
Amen.