1st place.

Some people love to be invited to various events, so they spend a lot of time sweeping various parties, receptions, lunches, and dinners. They live off the fact that it increases their prestige in the eyes of other people, and so they directly or indirectly climb the social or political ladder. Today, we also see Jesus at the banquet. As a missionary constantly going from one place to another and often had nowhere to lay his head, he gladly accepted the invitation. But, as we have noticed, he was not only concerned with food or rest but took advantage of this moment to tell a parable in which he used the image of a feast. He observed how many chose the leading seats at the table, which, on the other hand, could be very risky because the host could properly ridicule the given guest if he sat him as far away from him as possible. Jesus certainly wasn’t concerned with the rule of decent dining, but he wanted to teach the guests, as well as us, a lesson in false overestimation.

The desire for first place is as old as humanity and today it directly determines the rhythm of life. Life is a constant rush, and I fight for first place, not only in sports but also in my personal life. Today, the first place is prestige, popularity, promotion, success, promotion, career… Some people conquer it with broad elbows, others with hard work, others with a big mouth, and it falls into the lap of some… But no one has a guarantee because the first place can be lost today or tomorrow, and everything in the process.

It is typical for a person to want to progress, to go higher, and to be honored. This effort is reasonable, but it must be controlled by reason and will so it goes smoothly. However, there is also an area where this struggle is missing, and there is no interest. They are seats in our churches, unoccupied seats, and usually those in the first pews. Even in the last ones and near the exit, someone sits down. If these people do it out of modesty, Jesus would take them by the sleeve and lead them forward. And there needs to be more interest in one more leading place. It is a banqueting place in the kingdom of heaven, although Jesus Christ himself is seated there. How little do people do for heaven, and how much do they care about earthly achievements, although temporary and unstable?! We certainly remember how the mother of Zebedee’s sons begged Jesus: Say that these two sons of mine sit in your kingdom, one on your right and the other on your left. And what was Jesus’ reaction? What are you asking for? It is not mine to make someone sit on my right or left; those for whom my Father has prepared it will receive it.

Duke Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898) once came inconspicuously to a banquet and took a seat at the end of the table. The hostess observed this with horror, apologized, and begged him to sit at the top of the table. The chancellor answered confidently: Where I sit, dear lady, there is always the top of the table! By these words, he indicated that it is not the chair, the throne, the garment, or the canopy that determines the first place but the personality. And personality will be decisive even before God. We will not be “settled” by tailcoats, dresses, rings, gold chains with crosses, earrings, awards, or acquaintances. But we will be “settled” according to how we have been attentive to the small, the oppressed, the weak, the sick, to people from whom we cannot expect reward or honor.

He formulated it clearly: When you prepare a feast, invite the poor, the disabled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed because they have nothing to repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. And if we follow his words in dividing the places in his kingdom, he will tell us: I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a traveler, and you embraced me; I was naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me. Then the righteous will say to him: Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you as a traveler and embrace you or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you? The king will answer them: Truly, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers, you did for me.

The Lord would grant that each of us hear this answer of his once as a reward for entering the kingdom of heaven.