BEING FIRST!

 “HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Daily Reflections

Saturday, 31st October 2020. 

Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Saturday Memorial of Blessed Virgin Mary

Phil 1: 18-26;

Ps 42: 2-3, 5;

Lk 14: 1, 7-11

BEING FIRST!

Each human person aspires to be someone great. We strive to be respected and to be recognized. A prominent sports figure said: “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” In other words, being first is so important to some that it becomes the only thing they will settle for. Nothing else is acceptable. But for a Christian there is a paradox between his aspiration and the teachings of Jesus whom he follows. Jesus has said, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be the last of all, and servant of all” (Mk 9: 35). Do we see the difference in means? Our sports figure says, “Go for first!” Our Lord says, “Go for last.” Both are telling us how to get to the top, but the difference of means is like night and day.

In telling the parable of the wedding feast, Jesus strikes a chord in the hearts of those dining with Him at the Pharisee’s house. It is clear that His audience was filled with those who sought the esteem of others and were very concerned about their social reputation. It would have been a frightening thought for them to take the place of honor at a banquet only to be embarrassed by the host when asked to move to a lower spot. This humiliation was clear to those who were caught up in the world of social prestige. Jesus uses this embarrassing example as a way of highlighting their pride and the danger of living in such a prideful way. He goes on to say, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The point Jesus is making is that humility is one of the important marks of his kingdom. Are we among the proud or are we among the humble? We like sitting beside beautiful people. We want to be seen with the celebrities. We are the ones who would not be so likely to rub shoulders with the stranger, and the homeless, and the poor. So in this text, Jesus is speaking to us, and he says “Everyone who makes himself or herself great will be humbled. And those who make themselves humble will be great.” 

The letter of St Paul to the Philippians explains Paul’s joy in suffering. Paul’s great joy was in the fact that through his own personal suffering and the sufferings of the Philippians and other believers that the Gospel is advanced. It also tells us that though preaching Christ was the only focus for Paul, he did not take pride for the success of the Gospel. If God does not give us the grace of being able to see the pride in ourselves, we will come into competitive situations even in preaching the Gospel, motivated in the wrong way entirely.

Prayer: Lord, give me the grace to detest the pride in me and the grace to be humble. Amen.