Today’s reading from Luke states an important theme of the gospel: “every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” This idea of pride vs. humility cuts sharply against our natural tendencies as humans. We condemn and abhor pride in other people, while either never noticing or finding excuses for it in ourselves. After all, we deserve a seat of honor at the banquet! Why should someone else get the best place over us? False humility runs the same danger: being overly self-effacing calls attention to us and invites worldly praise and honor. In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis explains that God does not condemn pride because he is threatened by our superior ego—rather, our pride prevents us from knowing God. Yet God desires us to know him; “He wants to give you Himself [and] if you really get into any kind of touch with Him you will, in fact, be humble…feeling the infinite relief of having for once got rid of all the silly nonsense about your own dignity which has made you restless and unhappy all your life” (127).

Jesus shows us what true humility looks like in practice when he calls on his Pharisee host to invite, not dignitaries, but rather “the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind” to his banquets. From this we see that the truly humble person is not focused on his reputation or position, but rather on the needs of the outcast. His care comes from genuine concern, not expectation of repayment; he trusts that he will one day be repaid by God “at the resurrection of the righteous.” Through this outward focus, the humble person reflects the heart of God, who gives “a home to the forsaken” and provides for the needy (Ps.68:7). If God, who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, who owns everything, can give so lavishly of himself, we also should resist the desire to cling on to anything too tightly—not our possessions, and not even our own sense of importance.

Reflection by parishioner Kathryn Wilmotte