WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED

XXII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Luke 14:1,7-14

Jesus was invited to a meal in a Pharisee’s home, and “they watched him closely” so that they might prove him wrong. We get the impression that, on both sides, they spied on each other. Jesus was always aware of his surroundings, paying attention to the attitudes and the reactions of those who surrounded him. Noticing how the guests were looking for “the places of honour”, Jesus took the opportunity to set forth before them the path of righteousness. If someone, full of pride, looks down on everybody else, he is walking on the path to self-destruction. By his pride, he cuts the strings that connect him to the others and remains alone, full of himself and empty of everything which may bring peace and happiness. That’s why Jesus said it very clearly: “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the man who humbles himself will be exalted.”

To humble oneself does not mean to accept any kind of humiliation that robs us of our dignity. Instead, it means to recognise and to accept our weaknesses and shortcomings; it means to become aware of the need of belonging, knowing that we are interdependent and need the others to live and find happiness. 

In the book of Sirach, there is a passage, which is this Sunday’s first reading about being humble and about the danger of being proud, comparing pride to a sickness: “There is no cure for the proud man’s malady since an evil growth has taken root in him.” Being proud, we ignore, despise and oppress the others and turn our back on God. This pride becomes the root of selfishness, jealousy, envy and hatred, ignoring the truth and being satisfied with lies.

Humbling ourselves, we will be able to sit with the poor and to pay attention to the needs of the others. Let us pray and ask the Lord to give us a humble heart who can rejoice in the goodness of others.