For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted (Luke 14:11).

Read Luke 14:1–11

There are some events to which we are invited when it is quite clear as to where we shall sit and the position that we hold at the event. When we go to the theatre, we have set seats and hunt for our numbers on the back of the seat. Or, when we board a plane, it is quite clear where we sit, although the people surrounding us can be a surprise! Such positions have been determined by others. We may have set some criteria – for example, a window seat on the plane – but the allocation and position are out of our control.

At other times, we can be unsure. There was a custom previously that when attending a wedding, you were placed on either the bride or groom’s side of the church. Or, if you are invited to a conference as a guest speaker, do you sit up the front, or just wait until called?

Even in church, we can often dither as to where we should sit. This is particularly an issue when visiting another church – as people often sit in the same place each week, it can be unsettling to find that we have sat in someone’s regular place.

The guests in the above text were comparing themselves with the other guests and determined for themselves the position that they considered appropriate to them.

Our decisions are often predicated on how we perceive ourselves – as a special guest, a speaker, etc. But Jesus is saying to us that when it comes to entering his kingdom, we are not the arbiters of our position – he is.

There are many ways in which we lack humility and measure ourselves against others – the suburbs we live in, the cars we drive, academic qualifications, holidays, and career positions. But do any of these identifiers make us more worthy in Jesus’ eyes than our neighbour who is different from us? In Philippians 2:4 we read, ‘Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your interests but each of you to the interests of the others’.

By your Holy Spirit, Lord, turn me from pride in myself to be more like you, seeking to see you in those who surround me so that I may be worthy to be a child of your kingdom. Amen.

Faye Schmidt continues her diaconal calling through governance, having served on the Vic–Tas District Church Board, the General Church Board, and currently as chair of the Standing Committee on Constitutions and her congregation, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Adelaide. Having lived and worked in many locations within Australia and overseas, Faye has a heart for the stranger and the newcomer and for being open to new ideas, learning from others, and responding to needs.

I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’ (Luke 13:35b).

Read Luke 13:31–35

The Lutheran church is known as a confessional and liturgical church. This means that we have documented confessional statements that set out the basis of our beliefs and teaching. We are also liturgical – our worship services are set out in a format that takes from Scripture elements that set out the story of salvation. The gospel is proclaimed to us through the liturgy itself.

If you have ever worshipped in a church where the language spoken is not your own, it can be alienating. But if it is a liturgical church, there is a rhythm, a flow to the service that can be familiar and welcoming. By the tone of the responses, and the actions of the pastor, we can gauge where we are in the service. We can identify the confession and absolution, the collect for the day, the kyrie (Lord have mercy), the sermon, the offering of thanksgiving and the blessing. This enables us to participate in spirit without saying aloud the words.

The event that Jesus refers to in our text today is his arrival in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday when the people cry out, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’. And, in our communion liturgy, we repeat this phrase just before the institution of holy communion.

Because this is where Jesus comes to us, in the bread and wine of holy communion. He comes to us! We may ‘go’ to communion, but it is where Jesus comes to us. As the song says, ‘Here we meet you once again, God of mercy, God of grace … ’.

Through our liturgy, Palm Sunday is every Sunday when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. It is part of remembering that last supper, the recognition that our salvation is God’s action at every step of the way and we, like those at the first Palm Sunday, cry out in thankfulness – ‘Hosanna, hosanna in the highest’.

God of mercy, God of grace, we thank and praise you for the gift of the sacrament of holy communion in which you come to us to forgive us and strengthen us through your love. Amen.

Faye Schmidt continues her diaconal calling through governance, having served on the Vic–Tas District Church Board, the General Church Board and currently as chair of the Standing Committee on Constitutions and her congregation, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Adelaide. Having lived and worked in many locations within Australia and overseas, Faye has a heart for the stranger and the newcomer and for being open to new ideas, learning from others and responding to needs.

What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about 60 pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough (Luke 13:20,21).

Read Luke 13:18-30

Have you ever baked your bread? During the COVID lockdowns across the country, there was a shortage of flour, as people found themselves confined to their homes with time to challenge themselves to make their own bread.

It all starts with the yeast, the smallest ingredient used in the process that makes everything happen. But what is yeast? A dictionary tells me it is a ‘single-cell organism, called Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which needs food, warmth and moisture to thrive’.

So, although yeast has much power, left to sit on a shelf it does nothing except deteriorate in effectiveness if not used when fresh. The yeast also needs flour, warmth and moisture to yield a product.

Scripture teaches us that those who are baptised and believe in Christ as their Saviour are already part of God’s kingdom. We may not be many – we may be out-numbered in our family or community. But our text tells us that we are like the yeast, where we are fed with God’s word and the sacraments, bathed in the warmth of fellow believers and daily aware of the waters of our baptism, the kingdom thrives.

So let us always remember that it is God’s kingdom. Although the world looks to demonstrations of might and power as giving things meaning, our God looks to the small, and the humble, and despite their humility and size, have an influence that outstrips everything else.

That humility came into focus through Christ who humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on the cross.

We praise and thank you Heavenly Father that you accept us, your children and heirs of your kingdom. through the death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.