Lk 14:1, 7-11
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.
When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place.
But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Aligning Ourselves With God
Today’s Gospel reminds us that “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Humility before God means recognizing that God is God, and we are not. It involves understanding that our wants and desires may have selfish origins, or may not ultimately be oriented toward God. It takes humility to look at our own actions and to make the necessary changes to bring them more in line with God’s invitation for us.
What is an aspect of your life that you can look at humbly, and make changes to more closely align with God?
—Jesuit Prayer team
Prayer
Prayer for Humility
Let me have too deep a sense of humor ever to be proud.
Let me know my absurdity before I act absurdly.
Let me realize that when I am humble I am most human,
most truthful, and most worthy of your serious consideration.
—Daniel Lord, SJ