“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
Saturday, 29th October 2016,
Thirtieth Week of Ordinary Time
Phil 1: 18-26;
Ps 42: 2-3, 5;
Lk 14: 1, 7-11
BEING FIRST!
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.
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? 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.
Copyright ©2013-2016 ©JoyCat, Joy of the Catholic Life: see www.joy-cat.blogspot.com.