30TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Blessed Virgin Mary
St. Martin de Porres, religious
Psalter: Week 2 / (Green/White)
Ps 42:2, 3, 5cdef
My soul is thirsting for the living God.
1st Reading: Phil 1:18b-26
But, in any case, whether they are sincere or showing off, Christ is proclaimed and, because of this, I rejoice and have no regrets. I know that all this will be a grace for me, because of your prayers, and the help given by the Spirit of Christ. I am hopeful, even certain, that I shall not be ashamed. I feel as assured now, as before, that Christ will be exalted through my person, whether I live or die.
For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I am to go on living, I shall be able to enjoy fruitful labor. Which shall I choose? So I feel torn between the two. I desire greatly to leave this life and to be with Christ, which will be better by far, but it is necessary for you that I remain in this life. And because I am convinced of this, I know that I will stay, and remain with you, for your progress and happiness in the faith. I will surely come to you again, and give you more reason for being proud of belonging to Christ Jesus.
Gospel: Lk 14:1, 7-11
One Sabbath Jesus had gone to eat a meal in the house of a leading Pharisee, and he was carefully watched.
Jesus then told a parable to the guests, for he had noticed how they tried to take the places of honor. And he said, “When you are invited to a wedding party, do not choose the best seat. It may happen that someone more important than you has been invited; and your host, who invited both of you, will come and say to you, ‘Please give this person your place.’ What shame is yours when you take the lowest seat!
“Whenever you are invited, go rather to the lowest seat, so that your host may come and say to you, ‘Friend, you must come up higher.’ And this will be a great honor for you in the presence of all the other guests. For whoever makes himself out to be great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Reflections
Whoever humbles himself will be exalted
As I read Jesus' parable, do I have either the proud feeling of being considered more special than I thought I was, or do I feel deprived of being thought more ordinary than seemed right to me? When Jesus recommends humility - and his parable is not about right etiquette at parties - what is he calling me to? What is so great about this humility? In Jesus we see the humility of the one who knew who he was – God’s beloved - and freely caring, serving and healing others. He is among us as one who serves, the one who sees the needs of his people and does his best to meet them. In word and actions, he served us with his whole life. Pope Francis said in one of his homilies: “God saves us by making himself little, near and real.” By being “little, near and real” God makes himself relatable and felt. “The Lord does not want to be feared like a powerful and aloof sovereign. He does not want to remain on his throne in heaven or in history books, but loves to come down to our everyday affairs, to walk with us.”
Daily Reflection 2018
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
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