PLACES AT TABLE

PRAYER MOMENT 

Saturday 1 November 2014

PLACES AT TABLE

                     

Pause. Be still in God’s presence.

Reading: “When you are a guest make your way to the lowest place and sit there, so that, when your host comes, he may say, ‘my friend move up higher.’” (Luke 14:7-11)

Reflection. It sounds like a rather crude story about how to make a good impression, but the punch line is in the final saying, ‘Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.’ We recognise a humble person when we see one. There is a genuineness, a truth, about such people. Julius Nyerere was such a person. Pope Francis is another. And we know lots of less famous people who were humble.. There is no pretence about a humble person, no fear, no worry about, ‘how do I look?’ How did I do?’ The humble person is close to the truth. There is nothing to be proud about. Everything is a gift. Life gives everything and for believers, ‘God gives everything.’ The humble person is marvellously free and joyful. He/she knows the truth. People who exalt themselves are really being rather silly. They are promoting something that does not exist.

Prayer. Lord, teach us to be humble, to recognise that everything is your gift. We rejoice in using what you give us and so giving it back to you increased. Amen.  

David Harold-Barry SJ