Reading 1 Sir 3:17-18, 20, 28-29
and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.
Humble yourself the more, the greater you are,
and you will find favor with God.
What is too sublime for you, seek not,
into things beyond your strength search not.
The mind of a sage appreciates proverbs,
and an attentive ear is the joy of the wise.
Water quenches a flaming fire,
and alms atone for sins.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11
The just rejoice and exult before God;
they are glad and rejoice.
Sing to God, chant praise to his name;
whose name is the LORD.
R. God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.
The father of orphans and the defender of widows
is God in his holy dwelling.
God gives a home to the forsaken;
he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.
R. God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.
A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your inheritance;
you restored the land when it languished;
your flock settled in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the needy.
R. God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.
Reading 2 Heb 12:18-19, 22-24a
Brothers and sisters:You have not approached that which could be touched
and a blazing fire and gloomy darkness
and storm and a trumpet blast
and a voice speaking words such that those who heard
begged that no message be further addressed to them.
No, you have approached Mount Zion
and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,
and countless angels in festal gathering,
and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven,
and God the judge of all,
and the spirits of the just made perfect,
and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant,
and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel.
Alleluia Mt 11:29ab
Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord,
and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Lk 14:1, 7-14
On a sabbath Jesus went to dineat the home of one of the leading Pharisees,
and the people there were observing him carefully.
He told a parable to those who had been invited,
noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.
“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet,
do not recline at table in the place of honor.
A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,
and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say,
‘Give your place to this man,’
and then you would proceed with embarrassment
to take the lowest place.
Rather, when you are invited,
go and take the lowest place
so that when the host comes to you he may say,
‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’
Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.
For every one who exalts himself will be humbled,
but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Then he said to the host who invited him,
“When you hold a lunch or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers
or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,
in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.
For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
THE HUMBLEST HUMBLENESS
"For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled and he who humbles himself shall be exalted." –Luke 14:11
Jesus invites us to humble ourselves by taking the lowest place (Lk 14:10) and by inviting "beggars and the crippled, the lame and the blind" to eat with us (Lk 14:13). Most people take Jesus' words as a suggestion and encouragement to be humble and help the poor. Jesus, however, indicates that His words are to be taken much more seriously when He concluded His command with the words: "You should be pleased that they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid in the resurrection of the just" (Lk 14:14). Jesus' call to humility and service is of ultimate significance.
When Jesus commands us to humble ourselves, it means much, much more than these words coming from anyone else. Jesus washed the feet of the apostles (Jn 13:4ff) and "humbled Himself, obediently accepting even death, death on a cross!" (Phil 2:8) Jesus has humbled Himself by giving Himself to us in Holy Communion. He is so humbled that He doesn't look like God or even like a man. He looks like bread and wine. When this crucified, eucharistic God-Man speaks of humbling ourselves, He speaks with a depth and love far beyond anything we have ever heard.
Humble yourself – by Jesus' standards.
| PRAYER: | Jesus, teach me to be "gentle and humble of heart" (Mt 11:29). |
| PROMISE: | "Conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts. Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God." –Sir 3:17-18 |
| PRAISE: | Praise Jesus, Who is the same yesterday, today, and forever! (Heb 13:8) |
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