Learn The Ways of Humility.
Dear Parishioners,
The virtue of humility is put before us this weekend to reflect and meditate on. Jesus took advantage of the gathering of the distinguished members of the Pharisees to offer a new understanding on virtue of humility. Without missing words, he chided those who sought a place of honor for themselves. He instructed that when invited for a banquet do not take a place of honor by yourself, rather wait to be seated.
There is more to this banquet protocol. In a banquet setting you wait for the master of the house to give you a place of honor and not take it by yourself. In the kingdom too, you do not choose your place or exalt yourself on your own. Jesus teaches us something profound. Self-promotion has no place in God’s kingdom or at his table. For us to possess the kingdom we must make an extra effort to free ourselves from our personal ambitions and the desire to grab a place of honor without regard to needs of others. The Lord is asking us to think of others first before ourselves.
We cannot lord it over others, we cannot use our titles, positions, wealth and superiority of ideas to push others aside. We must be mindful of the weak, the poor and those left at the margin of society. At the banquet dinner, the poor, and the sick were not invited so the Lord Jesus took swipe of criticism against his host and the leading men of Pharisees who occupied the place of honor. They forgot that “love becomes more visible when it touches the neediest.”
Today’s liturgy stresses the importance of humility in our lives. Where there is no humility God cannot penetrate. It is humility that made God become one like us. Humility is a hinge that holds other virtues. It propels into the inner heart of God. Unfortunately, it is a virtue not always held in great esteem in our society. It is fascinating to note that the word humility comes from the Latin word humus, meaning dark soil. It conveys the idea of nothingness, ordinariness, earthy, and simple. In a culture where self-determination, human ambition and aggressive attitude is deeply valued, humility seems to be so much at odd.
However, Jesus calls our attention to be humble, making it an essential requirement for discipleship. Only those who humble themselves can fit into God’s hands. Jesus teaches that anyone who wants to be great must make himself the least. The truth is that we lose nothing when we humble ourselves. It is not negation or the destruction of human person. We have to choose putting ourselves in the hands of God; for only God can re-create us. The author of Sirach counsels, “Conduct your affairs with humility…Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.”
A humble heart knows how to give without counting the cost. He knows how to surround his table with people who cannot return the favor. He gives without any ulterior motive because love propels him. Let us learn from Jesus for he is humble and gentle of heart. There is no possible cure for anyone who is not willing to learn the ways of humility. Because everything is of himself, by himself, and for himself.
Sincerely Yours In Christ,
Rev. Vitalis Anyanike
Pastor
