GOSPEL READING:
Luke 14:1, 7-111 One sabbath when he went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him. 7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he marked how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8 "When you are invited by any one to a marriage feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest a more eminent man than you be invited by him; 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, `Give place to this man,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, `Friend, go up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Meditation: Who wants to be last? Isn't it only natural
to desire respect and esteem from others? Jesus' parable of the
guests invited to the marriage feast probes our motives for
seeking honor and position. Self-promotion is most often achieved
at the expense of others! Jesus' parable reinforces the teaching
of Proverbs: Do not put yourself forward in the king's
presence or stand in the place of the great; for it is better to
be told, "Come up here," than to be put lower in the presence of
the prince (Proverbs 25:6-7).
True humility frees us to be our true selves as God sees us
What is true humility and why should we make it a characteristic
mark of our life and action? True humility is not feeling bad
about yourself, or having a low opinion of yourself, or thinking
of yourself as inferior to others. True humility frees us from
preoccupation with ourselves, whereas a low self-opinion tends to
focus our attention on ourselves. Humility is truth in
self-understanding and truth in action. Viewing ourselves
truthfully, with sober judgment, means seeing ourselves the way
God sees us (Psalm 139:1-4). A humble person makes a realistic
assessment of himself or herself without illusion or pretense to
be something he or she is not. The humble regard themselves
neither smaller nor larger than they truly are.
True humility frees us to be our true selves and to avoid despair
and pride. A humble person does not have to wear a mask or put on
a facade in order to look good to others, especially to those who
are not really familiar with that person. The humble are not
swayed by accidentals, such as fame, reputation, success, or
failure.
True humility frees us to love and serve selflessly for the
good of others
Humility is the queen or foundation of all the other virtues
because it enables us to view and judge ourselves correctly, the
way God sees us. Humility leads to true self-knowledge, honesty,
realism, strength, and dedication to give ourselves to something
greater than ourselves. Humility frees us to love and serve others
selflessly, for their sake, rather than our own. Paul the
Apostles, gives us the greatest example and model of
humility in the person of Jesus Christ, who emptied himself,
taking the form of a servant, ...who humbled himself and became
obedient unto death, even death on a cross (Philippians
2:7-8). The Lord Jesus gives grace to those who seek him humbly.
Do you want to be a servant as Jesus served?
Lord Jesus, you became a servant for my sake to set me free from the tyranny of sin, selfishness, and conceit. Help me to be humble as you are humble and to love freely and graciously all whom you call me to serve.
Psalm 68:4-8a, 10-11
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds; his name is the LORD, exult before him!
5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
6 God gives the desolate a home to dwell in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity.
7 O God, when you went forth before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, [Selah]
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, at the presence of God
10 Your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
11 The Lord gives the command; great is the host of those who bore the tidings:
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Jesus calls us to be humble, modest, and praiseworthy, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)
"'When,' he says, 'a man more honorable than you comes, he that
invited you and him will say, 'Give this man place.' Oh, what great
shame is there in having to do this! It is like a theft, so to
speak, and the restitution of the stolen goods. He must restore what
he has seized because he had no right to take it. The modest and
praiseworthy person, who without fear of blame might have claimed
the dignity of sitting among the foremost, does not seek it. He
yields to others what might be called his own, that he may not even
seem to be overcome by empty pride. Such a one shall receive honor
as his due. He says, 'He shall hear him who invited him say, "Come
up here."... If any one among you wants to be set above others, let
him win it by the decree of heaven and be crowned by those honors
that God bestows. Let him surpass the many by having the testimony
of glorious virtues. The rule of virtue is a lowly mind that does
not love boasting. It is humility. The blessed Paul also counted
this worthy of all esteem. He writes to those who eagerly desire
saintly pursuits, 'Love humility.'" (excerpt from COMMENTARY
ON LUKE, HOMILY 101.5)
