Humility is an acknowledgement of who we are in relation to God
by Sister Margaret Mary Halbach
Sunday’s first reading from Sirach and Luke’s Gospel set the theme for this reflection.
A passage from Sirach states: “My child, 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)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is dining in the house of the leading Pharisees. Jesus tells a parable directed at those invited who were choosing the highest places of honor at the table. Jesus suggests that when you are invited, take the lowest place so that the host may have you move to one of the higher places. “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Lk 14:11)
He further says, “When you hold a lunch or dinner, do not invite your friends … invite the poor, the crippled, lame, blind; blessed will you be because they will not be able to repay you.”
The key theme is humility.
So we ask ourselves:
- Do we give credit to the One who has given us our gifts ... the Lord?
- Do we give deference to others first?
- Do we do good to others because they do good to us in return?
- Do we do good to others because they need help?
These are hard questions to reflect on and answer. The parable challenges us all. My prayer for each of you and myself is that the Sunday’s Scriptures will help us gain a deeper understanding of the virtue of humility.
The questions made me ask myself - Am I doing enough to be humble?