Pit

"The person who makes himself humble will be great," Luke 14:11.

Jesus healed a seriously diseased man. Certain (self-)righteous men watched to see if Jesus broke religious rules in the healing. Jesus noted that even they would break a religious rule to save their child who fell into a pit. Then he noted that these same righteous men had tried to get the best places at a banquet. Jesus told them that humility served much better than pride. So, we see Jesus. He lowered himself even to breaking of himself against our religious traditions in order to heal us. So, God raised him from the pit to his throne.

When we meet a brother or sister today and shake hands, we recognize Jesus who reached down to give us his nail-pierced hands. And, together, we lift praises and thanksgivings to God for having received us with Jesus at the throne.