Humble Me

Have you ever been humbled?

When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honour, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, “Give this person your place”, and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place.  - Luke 14:8-9

In today's Gospel, Jesus advises those he is dining with to be humble in the presence of others.

He warns them against taking a place of honor for themselves, subjecting themselves to ridicule and embarrassment when the host puts them in their place.

Who would want that?

I will admit that I love being recognized.  When I see someone I know and I am greeted with smiles and hugs it does something to me.  I am filled with joy.  I am raised up, proud.

I am sure that is the wrong reaction.  I should be honored and overjoyed to see them, to greet them the way I would like to be greeted, and I try to do that.  But the moment I am embraced, I can't help feel exalted.

And on those not-so-rare occasions when I am ready to be embraced but the person I approach is cold and aloof, I am crushed inside.

It's my own fault, I know.  I have done exactly what Jesus warns the guests at the dinner not to do.  I put myself in a position of greatness, and I am humbled.

As painful as that might be, it is probably a good lesson to learn.  Once it happens, I don't want to be in a position like that again.

Jesus is appealing to their sense of pride.  Their egos will be crushed if they are treated as though they  are not as special as they believe they are.

Is that what it takes to get us to be humble?  Do we need to be embarrassed in public?

While we know it shouldn't, it is a powerful lesson.  But what about our motives?  Doesn't it matter that we humble ourselves to avoid embarrassment?

I am sure it would be better if it was my nature to be humble without fear of being played the fool, but I guess I need to take it the way it comes.  If it is not natural at first, perhaps with practice, it will become my nature.

So, humble me, Lord  Teach me to be one who seeks not to be recognized, but to be surprised when it comes.

And maybe, just maybe, I will find myself embraced more often.

More to come...