SERMON, PROPER 17C, LUKE 14:1, 7-14

Strings. We can do a lot with strings. We can attach a feather to a string and entertain our cats for hours. We can wind it up until we create the world's largest ball of string. We can attach strings to a piece of well-crafted wood and make beautiful music. We can tie two cans together and play telephone. We can use them to direct and control the dance of a marionette. And we can even use strings to try and direct and control people.

Today's gospel passage is full of strings. Let's talk about the banquet first. Jesus is invited to a dinner and he watches how the guests jockey for position. We've all seen this -- some big fancy dinner and people put themselves in what they think is the most advantageous position. And Jesus says, "You know what? Don't do that."

Don't do it because the host might have a different seating arrangement and could pull your string back down to a lower place. Don't assume that you are worthy to sit in the place of honor. Instead, let the host pull you up to that place of honor. Rather than assigning ourselves the the best spot and places of honor, we should let our hots and those around us do that.

But note this: Jesus isn't giving us some new politically savvy strategy. He's not saying, "You know, if you work the system right, if you pull the right strings, you'll come out looking good." That's not what this is about. What this is about is recognizing that only the host of the banquet gets to determine who gets the place of honor.

So that's from the guest's perspective. Let's look at the host, because I think this is more applicable to us.

When you give a luncheon or dinner, don't invite those who can repay you. Again, strings. In our society today, there isn't as much emphasis placed on return favors as there used to be. But in some societies and some cultures and definitely in other times, there is a whole protocol set up around meal invitations. In short, Jesus is saying to simply invite people. Let them ejoy the meal. Don't expect anything in return.

The chances of us giving a big luncheon or dinner as some social obligation or status symbol, however, I think are pretty slim. So let's put this into an example we might better understand. How about a gift?

We attach strings to gifts all the time. From the world of the bizarre, Leona Helmsley left $12 million for the care of her dog. A butler received something like $100K. Certain grandchildren received a few million, provided they visited her grave once a year. And other grandchildren received not a penny "for reasons known to them." Even after death, people feel a need to remain in control and dictate what happens and actions required. Those are some pretty thick strings attached to Leona's will.

On a smaller scale, we can talk about special gifts to the Church. People use their money in an attempt to control the church. Oh, they probably wouldn't come right out and say that, but what else would you call it when donations are made and tagged for restricted use? I call it trying to control the purse strings.

Now some of that is okay -- that's part of how Christ Church got the new roof. But when gifts are restricted because someone doesn't like the priest, or they don't trust the wardens, or they simply want it done their way, there's a problem. A donation to the building fund is great. A donation restricted for the purchase of a new organ when a new organ isn't needed is silly. A donation for outreach and/or mission work is wonderful. A donation for mission work to be performed by people 18-20 years old in Haiti is overly controlling.

Strings. How can we avoid attaching strings to our actions and our gifts? Jesus said that when we host a banquet we should invite those who have no means to repay us. He is asking us to emulate kingdom behavior, for God has invited us to the heavenly banquet with no thought as to how we might repay him.

We partake in a glimpse of that heavenly banquet every week. It is our job to invite, with no strings attached, those who have nothing to offer us or no way to repay the favor. It is our job to welcome and host visitors, strangers and seekers. And we have an obligation to donate to the church, no strings attached, so the church can do everything from save the building to be involved in mission work.

Strings. When we cut off the strings from our actions and our gifts, then we will be imitating kingdom behavior. When we cut those strings, we give freely, trust implicitly, and welcome universally. And if we can't do that, then those strings of ours will get all knotted up and we'll be left with one hell of a mess.