The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
“My friend, move up to a higher position.”
Oh, to hear these words from the mouth of Christ! Even the honor of being called “friend” by Him who is Love is reward enough. The innate desire to be acknowledged and loved can lead us to know and love Christ, if properly ordered. The temptation can be strong for us to seek this love and acknowledgment solely from the likes, follows, and affirmations of the people around us.
Although He faced this same temptation throughout His earthly life, from the moment of conception until His death, the incarnate Jesus consistently and humbly chose to “take the lowest place.” Whenever presented with an opportunity to bask in the praise of the crowds, He chose to further humble Himself –to the point of suffering a most humiliating death. After a life where He set the perfect example of humility, His Father told Him, “Move up to a higher position.” If our lives follow the example Christ set for us, we also may take our position of honor at the feast of Heaven.
Whether we realize it or not, we are the poor, crippled, lame, and blind invitees to the heavenly banquet of angels. We must approach the table humbly, as we cannot hope to repay our host with anything other than our grateful presence and graceful treatment of the other guests. The moment I look with arrogance or judgement at another son or daughter of Christ for this reason or that, I begin to recline at table in the place of honor and am unknowingly preparing to proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place when the host finally arrives. Where will the host find you seated?
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me.
Tomás Aguilar is a Marine Corps Officer from Pennsylvania living just north of Jacksonville, Florida. When not in uniform you can find him hiking, biking, building, singing or cooking! Check out his Instagram to see his world travels, his love of Catholic Meme dealing, and his attempts to find and imitate the face of Christ in everyday life.