Time and time again in the Gospels we see Jesus sharing a meal with others. Table fellowship is frequently the setting either for the message itself, or the vehicle for the message. Of course, we know the culmination of all these meal settings is the great banquet itself – that of the Last Supper, where the Eucharist is instituted. We memorialise this in the Mass at our sacred meal, each time we participate in the liturgy.

Yesterday’s Gospel reading from Luke (14:1, 7-14) again seats many at the table to share a meal. As often is the case, Jesus provides us with a neat reversal or contradiction in the story. Jesus notices that people often like to take the place of honour at a dinner table, that is, unless or until someone more important comes along! Rather, he suggests, one should take the lowest place at the table and be humble about this fact. The kicker of course is that he who is humbled shall be exalted, and he who is exalted will be humbled. This rings out regularly through the Gospels, in the beatitudes, and with the similar echo of he who is first shall be last…

Even more importantly, and consistently so, is Jesus’ instruction to not just invite the “in-crowd” or the “people like us” to your home or party for dinner. Instead, invite the poor, the lame, the outcast. We are encouraged to invite all of those who have no possible chance of repaying the favour.

It is interesting that often, when we invite someone to our place for dinner, the unspoken expectation is that they will in turn reciprocate. When they do not return the favour, we might ask what we have done wrong! Naturally, we invite our friends and family to the table. Rarely do we invite those who are not our kin, or friends. It is a much bigger ask, to put at your table, in your home, those who others might think undeserving. The living of our Christian vocation is doing for others, with the absolute expectation of receiving nothing in return. There is no repayment, except perhaps in heaven!

At our College we try and invite our students into this space, where they consciously and generously take the initiative in doing for others, especially the poor, and those at the margins, with nothing but a good feeling inside for having done so. It is easily said, yet often much more difficult to do. I am always impressed by the readiness of our students to invite others to the table, and to offer fellowship. This is the preferential option for the poor enacted.  

Arriving at school on time

I draw your attention to punctuality to school. Of late, more than 80 students are signing in after the bell for pastoral care has rung. The first bell goes at 8.45am, and PC class commences at 8.50. It is not acceptable that we have this many students regularly arriving late to school. These late arrivals will be marked as a partial absence. Please organise morning routines to ensure that students arrive to school on time. Punctuality is an expectation in life – especially in the workplace. We are setting our students up well for life beyond school when punctuality is observed.

Dr Craig Wattam
Principal