Be Seated

While at Mass the other day, one of my friends, Chris, was the lector. The priest and deacon were seated, and the 3rd chair next to Fr. Mike was vacant. After he finished reading, Chris headed to a seat, behind the 3 chairs where the priest and deacon were. Fr. Mike stopped Chris, patted the chair next to him, indicating Chris to be seated. A Scripture passage unfolded right then and there.

You see, Chris has a heart of service to the marginalized and to the earth. He works outdoors, gently trimming away harmful vines, and planting native plants to sustain our natural environment. His gentle love for and amazement of animals is encouraging. He had worked hard all week to bring comfort and compassion to a group of homeless guests in our parish hall, where volunteers played games, fed, talked with, and prayed with them. Surely, he was worn out. Yet, he went next door into church to proclaim readings to churchgoers.

After proclaiming the Word of the Lord, Chris was invited to sit “up front,” with the clergy. I was reminded of Jesus’ parable of the guests at a wedding feast, in Luke 14:7-10, describing guests choosing seats at a banquet. They are advised to take the lowest seat, so that the host can call them up to a higher place of honor.

Chris is a very humble man, and this short scene was a fitting image of how Jesus will reward him for his loving service. “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

May we be humble enough to allow Christ to invite us to be seated right beside him one day.