Our readings today speak beautifully about how we are to humble ourselves so that we can draw more attention to Christ rather than to me, myself, and I. And so in the first reading from Saint Paul's letter to the Philippians, he begins and ends this reading in this way Brothers and sisters, “as long as in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed, and in that I rejoice” (Philippians 1:18). Notice already saint paul is placing the spotlight on Christ not on himself. He goes on through the reading explaining how for him it would be better for him to leave this life and to be with Christ, to be in paradise, obviously. But for their sakes, perhaps it would be better for him to stay on until they were fully invested, fully committed to Christ. And listen to how he ends. “And this I know with confidence that I shall remain and continue in the service of all of you for your progress and joy in the faith so that your boast boasting in Christ Jesus may abound on account of me when I come to you again” (Philippians 1:25–26). In other words, this is Saint Paul's hope that all of his efforts and all of his struggles with them will eventually produce fruit of conversion, fruit of more radical, fruit which will spur on his newly converted Christians to love Christ and one another and everyone that God puts on their path all the more.
Then in the responsorial psalm we have as a response “my soul is thirsting for the living God” (Psalm 42:3). Now if a soul is completely immersed in the distractions of the world or in itself, trying to bolster my position in life, trying to create a name for myself so that I am recognized and honored and somehow come to some offering office of power, for example, then my soul will never thirst for the living god, will it, because it's not even thinking of him. So this response in the responsorial psalm is very important because it draws our attention back to the need to humble ourselves. “My soul is thirsting for the living God” (Psalm 42:3). It's almost like what Jesus said about his kind of food. He said “my food, the bread that I must eat, is to do the will of my father, is to do the will of my father” (John 4:34). Look at Jesus, who himself is God, but does not hold his equality with God something to be grasped at, but rather in his human nature listen to how he thirsts. for the living God.
Finally, we come to the gospel our Lord beautifully on the Sabbath so you know something interesting, dramatic is coming up, is dining at the home of one of the leading pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. Why was it so that they could learn or was it so that they could try to find something that they could bring against him? He told a parable to those who had been invited and why did he give the following parable? because he noticed how and I quote “how they were choosing the places of honor at the table” (Luke 14:7). He ends the parable by saying, “for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). My dear friends, and that is an act of faith. How and when God will exalt us, that is up to him. What we do know for sure is that we do not humble ourselves solely so that we can be exalted otherwise we're looking to be exalted in that defeat. defeats the purpose correct so we humble ourselves then what happens next is up to God but we do all things out of love for him.
Jesus's parable. It's however brief so we can go into it “when you are invited by some one to a wedding banquet, do not recline a table in the place of honor” (Luke 14:8). 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, excuse me, “give your place to this man” (Luke 14:9). And then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. “Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place” (Luke 14:10). So when the host comes to you, he may say, “my friend, move up to a higher position” (Luke 14:10), then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table."
My brothers and sisters, this is very Franciscan, obviously. Saint Francis, who asked his brothers whom he later named this band of brotherhood, the lesser brothers, the friars minor, not major, the friars minor that is we are always to seek not the place of honor in life. but the lesser, the hidden less distinguished place, and then the Lord will take care of the rest. Honors in this world come and go just like empires, every empire and dynasty came and whoever honors God, whoever walks humbly before him, that is the person that will endure forever. Just like God's kingdom which will have no end Dear citizens of the kingdom of heaven, strive on continue working out your salvation with fear and trembling, for the day of the Lord will come to each of us like a thief in the night, will we be prepared? Walk humbly before your Lord, and he will bless you. Amen.
Add comment
Comments