The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
When I hear the word humility, there are many things that come to mind: the little way of the saints, placing others before myself, a challenging virtue, the antonym of pride. Yet, there are many examples of how humility may be lived out.
Think of our Blessed Mother, Mary, how she came from the lowly town of Nazareth. How she humbly gave her yes, her fiat, to our Lord. As she lives out her fiat, she proclaims His greatness: “he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness…lifted up the lowly.” She echoes her Son in both word and deed, as Jesus is the One who humbled Himself through His life and death and was exalted in His resurrection.
Today, Our Lord provides one way to practice humility: “Take the lowest place [at the table]...When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind." He recalls the words of Sirach: “conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts. Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.” He invited the poor and the weak in His earthly ministry. He continues to invite the poor in spirit, the blind, and the needy to His table; He loves so deeply, and humbly gives Himself in body and blood, soul and divinity.
Dear friends, the Lord calls us to be humble and lowly, knowing that He Himself became lowly so we could be redeemed. He provides the example for us to follow, befriending and inviting the poor, the lame, the blind, those in need of love and grace. May we become lowly and live our lives humbly, that we may be exalted and find favor with Him.
Chrysta Joy Jaucian is a student physical therapist, singer, and missionary from Houston, Texas. She loves sharing joy through laughter, sharing stories over coffee, and finding the Lord in the ordinary.
