How Do We Know We Are Welcome?

Reflection for Sunday, August 31st, 2025

Luke 14:1,7-14

 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.

7When 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; 9and 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. 10But 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. 11For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 12He 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. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Have you ever gone somewhere and wondered if you were welcome?  What was that like for you?  Did you ever truly know? 

“Can’t sit here. Seat’s taken.” (from the movie Forrest Gump)

Are there people that you see on a regular basis who might be wondering the same question?  A new kid in the school lunchroom, someone just hired at your workplace, a person coming to church for the first time, a homeless person looking for a place to rest…?

 Am I welcome?  Am I wanted?  Am I worthy? 

This week’s gospel lesson includes sections from Luke 14, and Jesus addresses issues of welcome for both the guest and host.  And yet, maybe a place to begin is with this uncertainty around if one belongs somewhere or not. 

Was Jesus welcome? 

We recognize from the very first verse that something is likely to happen! 

“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.”

It is a meal, and Jesus often gets into conflict during meals in Luke’s account.  It is with the Pharisees, who tend to be adversaries of Jesus.  AND, it is on the sabbath when Jesus has previously had disagreements with the religious authorities.

 Sure, Jesus was invited…but was he welcome? 

I wonder if we too often go through the polite traditions of welcome (at school, work, neighborhood, church, sports team, etc.), but are really just tolerating someone?  Or, even worse, are we watching and waiting for the person to make a mistake so that we can write them off, call the police, or otherwise remove them from our lives?

The good news for us is that, regardless of motive, Jesus shows up anyway.  He goes to the meal.  He engages with the religious leaders without making himself small. 

Similarly, Jesus continues to show up in places where he is not altogether welcome.  Jesus arrives each week at church.  In water, bread, and wine to forgive us and remind us of our own belovedness…whether we want him to or not!  For everyone and for all of us.  For those who have been here since birth, for those who are there for the first time, and everyone in between.    

To be clear:

You are welcome. You are wanted. You are worthy.