Saturday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time (November 4, 2017): Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 14: 7-11)

On a Sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ´Give your place to this man,´ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. 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.”

Good News Reflection: The Call to Humility

Introductory Prayer: Lord, thank you for this time alone with you. Help me to use it well. Help me to put aside my worries and distractions to be with you. I believe that you are here, that you see and hear me. Open my heart to hear what you want to say to me this morning. I love you and want to serve you, but I am weak and need your strength. May the thoughts of my mind and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you.

Petition: Lord, help me to put others ahead of myself.

1. The Presence of Jesus.Today Jesus draws a lesson from an ordinary human event. Those who have organized a party or a banquet know that it is not always easy to make a guest list or to arrange the seating. When Jesus comes as a guest he sits watching the actions of the others. He sees the guests worried about the best place and about being noticed. They want to feel important. Jesus places himself within this common human event to show us that he wants to be involved in every part of our life. He wants to be present throughout our day. He is not only satisfied with giving himself to us in the Mass, but he longs to give himself to us in the most common of human events and circumstances.

2. Looking for the Best Seat.In the parable, the guests are looking for the best seat. They aren’t satisfied with simply being guests. They push people aside to claim for themselves a place at the head table. They want to be recognized and praised. They want to be in the inner circle and at the center of attention. They want the best place and the best treatment. But because their position depends on their own talents, their standing will always be at risk. After claiming one of the best seats, they risk the humiliating experience of being asked to move when a more important visitor appears on the scene. Jesus points out a human consequence of pride and vanity; even on a purely human level, pride and vanity cause suffering and misery.

3. Called to a Heavenly Banquet.Heaven is the banquet of banquets. This is the banquet we should be striving for. We shouldn’t concern ourselves with human glory but instead seek only heavenly praise.  “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Meekness is the virtue of self-mastery and self-conquest.  If we are to enter into the heavenly banquet, we must deny ourselves and our desire for recognition and praise. Our seat in this world is only temporary, but the seat reserved for us in heaven will last for all eternity.

Dialogue with Christ: Lord, help me to deny myself. I think about myself all the time. I worry about what others may think. I hold myself back from speaking about you. Help me to strive for that heavenly banquet. Help me to sacrifice myself for your good. Help me to put others first.

Resolution: I will take a lower place somewhere or in some activity today.

Fr. Marcial Maciel, LC

• Vatican
• HĐGM Việt Nam
• CSsR
• DCCT
• Nhà sách Đức Mẹ
• Đức Mẹ Hằng Cứu Giúp