Family Bible Study - 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Passage
Luke 14:1 On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the
Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. 7 When he
noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. 8 “When
you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of
honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host;
9 and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person
your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. 10 But
when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host
comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the
presence of all who sit at the table with you. 11 For all who exalt themselves will be
humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 12 He said also to the
one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your
friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite
you in return, and you would be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the
poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they
cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Questions for discussion -

1. Jesus says those who humble themselves will be exalted, and those who
exalt themselves will be humbled. In general, do you humble yourself or exalt
yourself. Which does Jesus want you to do? What did Jesus do?

2. If we want to be great, Jesus tells us in another part of the Gospel that we
need to fight not over the best seats, but over the “towel” to wash others’ feet.
How hard do you work to serve others humbly, so that Jesus might exalt you.

3. Jesus tells us to take care of those who cannot pay us back in this world, to make
sure that the good we do for others is out of love for others and not just so that we
get something out of it. What types of things can you do to take care of those people
who cannot repay you? What will you try to do this
week?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry