Sir 3:17-18,20,28-29;
Heb 12:18-19,22-24; Luke 14,1,7-14
We can understand the first part of today's gospel regarding
humility in variety of ways.
Some of us can even come to a simple conclusion that Jesus is encouraging us: to play the power
game more shrewdly, wherever it takes place, so we can get ahead of others and avoid being like buffoons who set themselves up for
embarrassment in front of others.
But then He clarifies his advice.
In his eyes humility is not a strategy to receive greater
recognition and influence.
Rather humility is knowledge that all people are cherished
children of God. Any standards and practices of discrimination which would diminish
that should be overthrown. We should accept others as equals and pay more
attention to those who for variety reasons are more challenged by the
circumstances of their lives. Righteousness
and cherishing others as God's children, not social position or the esteem of
others, should be a driving force of our lives.
So this is the great challenge pause to all of us:
As long as we see other people only as an abstract or
impersonal demographic or a menace or a stepping stone, we luck humility Jesus
talks about, and our worship of God is not authentic. God wants us to look at
others the way He does, as His sacred and holy children.
Are we able to do that? And if we say so,
Do our words and actions support that statement?
