Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to saint Luke 14, 1, 7-11
On a sabbath Jesus went to dine
at 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 everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Humility is your path
1) They watched him carefully. The way you observe someone can be positive or negative. Those who were ‘disturbed’ by Jesus observed him carefully. They were watching everything He said and did in order to detect anything that they could use against him. In life there are people that do not like us. They pay attention to us just to see how we act, how we behave, to see if we make a mistake. But let’s follow Jesus’s example. Be transparent and simple, always living life in truth. Besides, you cannot go round observing people to destroy them or to condemn them. Remember you and I are sinners too.
2. Seeking a place of honor. How many of us seek to be recognized and to hold a high position! We cannot seek honors! It is so sad to see Christians whose longing is no longer holiness or service, but rather to be leaders of their church movement or institution or to be “Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist” so as to be seen at Sunday mass distributing Holy Communion. How many times do we see priests who only want to become bishops or even the pope, they would love to be called monsignor. Or nuns who would love to be the Mother Superior or who get depressed if they are not teachers of novices. That is not Christian, that is selfish. We must remember that our calling is to serve and to disappear. We must entrust ourselves to God and do good to others silently.
3. Take the lowest place. God reminds us that we walk in life to serve, being aware that our treasure is heaven. We must work to help bring souls to heaven and to do good. Many will not know about all the good we do, but I assure you that your Father in heaven does. In humility we can achieve everything; those who are humble will earn the real place of honor in Heaven.
Remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you, be with you and protect you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
