“Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:10-11)

The major theme for this 22^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C focuses on the virtue of humility that opens our heart, minds and hands and leads to a blessed and generous sharing of our treasure, time and talent with one another and with those in need, especially the poor, the disadvantaged and the marginalized brothers and sisters of Christ in our society.

The term "humility" comes from the Latin word “humilitas,” which relates to “humilis,” that means "humble," "grounded" or "from the earth," since it derives from humus (earth). The word "humble" relates to feudal England where the lowest cuts of meat, or “umbles,” the “left over,” were provided to the lowest class of citizen after the upper classes had taken their parts.

Humility is the quality of being humble, or having a low self-regard, a sense of unworthiness, a recognition of self in relation to God and subsequent submission to God. It is being "unselved," a liberation from consciousness of self, a form of temperance that is neither having pride or haughtiness nor indulging in self-deprecation. Humility is an outward expression of an appropriate inner self-regard and is contrasted with humiliation which is an imposition, often external, of shame upon a person. Thus, humility may be misappropriated as ability to suffer humiliation through self-denouncements which in itself remains focused on self rather than low self-focus.

God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, Dynamic Christian disciples are those who (1) BELIEVE, (2) GROW, (3) SERVE, (4) LOVE and (5) LEAD others to Jesus. Today’s topic invites us to practice the virtue of humility in our Christian faith, to imitate Christ and do the works of mercy, to love God above all and to love our neighbors as ourselves to accomplish God’s will in our lives to glorify God.  

How can we help each other practice true humility in our life, remembering that we all need redemption of Christ?

Wishing everyone a blessed week in the Lord.