Jesus was an educator of special qualities.

        He never missed any opportunity for teaching.

        Every action, word, act that took place wherever He was, was a reason for precise observation.

        As our Model and Guide, He was completely aware of the fact that life is given to mankind for its own progress. And every moment in life is a growth opportunity.

        Lucas the Evangelist narrates that on a given Saturday Jesus walked in a pharisee’s home. Though the pharisee’s name is not mentioned, the Master went there as he had been invited for a meal.

        Everybody starred at Him as He approached.

        Jesus noticed the guests were rushing to get the front seats as everybody wanted to stay as close as possible to the host.

        Notice that, at Christ’s time, meals did not take place around a table.

        Instead, the guests sat on couches, sofas spread through the room, sort of forming a semi circle.

        The guests would then have their meal while reclining on the couch, resting their heads over their left arms and serving themselves with their right hands.

        This helps explain the rush for the seats closer to the owner of the house.

        Maybe because they wanted to be seen by him, once it could grant them some extra points in their interpersonal relationship and have a certain value in future deals.

        Maybe they were interested in getting closer in order not to lose a word from the host.

        Thus, they were able to take part from the conversation as well as analyze everything around them. And then possibly criticize one or another subject later.

        Looking around the room once more, Jesus started to speak and proposed the following parable:

        Whenever you are invited to a feast, do not take the front seat so that you may not be asked by the host to give your place to a person who is more considerate to the host than you.

        You will be all embarrassed and ashamed of moving to the back seat. Whenever you are invited, go seat in the back so that when the host arrives he may say to you:

        “My dear friend, please come sit at the front.” This shall be taken by you as a glorious moment in front of all of those who you will be sharing the table with.

        Everyone who rises shall be lowered and everyone who lowers shall be raised.

        First of all, Jesus’ words were a lesson of class. Because no one who ever is invited to a banquet shall sit where ever he/ she feels like to.

        Class states that one should wait for the master of ceremonies, or whoever plays such role, to point out the seats.

        The Master words were also an essential lesson for the Spirit.

        Only those who are humble in the inside are able to grow in an authentic way and make progress.

        And that was the standing of mankind’s Model and Guide, who then presented Himself as a servant to all of us.

        These words belong to Him: I am amongst you as the one who serves.

*   *   *

        Let us think about it: if the Star Master, the Christ, presented Himself like that, why do we still get hurt so much when we do not get the recognition of men?

        Let us serve always. God, Who sees and knows everything, has the exact awareness of where we belong to.

        He is the Supreme Justice and is never wrong.

        Let us think about it and let us live better, less concerned about the judgment of men. And let us live more connected to what the Lord of Life has to offer to each one of us.

Spiritist Moment  Team, based on chapter XIV,
items 1 and 7 through 11 from Lucas’ Gospel.
January 5.2009.