Luke 14:1-14

Luke 14:1-14

It has been said that humility is not thinking low of oneself, but not thinking of oneself at all. Humility is perhaps the most attractive of all virtues. The truly humble person is a delight to be around, especially if we are trying to learn humility. Humility is not a great person trying to pretend to be a nobody. Humility can be practiced by anyone, anyone who is willing to shift their focus from themselves to those near them is practicing humility.

Jesus uses the occasion of people struggling for seats at a dinner to illustrate how humility works. A humble person is as comfortable dining with those who could never repay them as with those who would reward them with a reciprocal invitation. A humble person simply does not presume any place for themselves. Like much of the life of a disciple, humility is counter intuitive. Looking at the place and practice of humility we can’t see any way in which humility would be a blessing. But humility is an end-times kind of thing. We are rewarded at the end for its practice and its practice prepares us for the end.

Humility is one of those things that is difficult to pursue directly. The resolution to act humble is something we can’t help but notice, measure and hold with pride. Humility is almost a by-product of focusing on the interest of others with a lack of concern for our own interest. The person standing at an intersection with a cardboard sign proclaiming their victimhood and their life of woe and pointing to their own interest may be practicing the very opposite of humility.

Jesus lived out humility by attending this meal at a Pharisee’s house on this Sabbath. Pharisaic opposition was already strong. There was a real possibility that this meal was a trap. Nevertheless Jesus accepts the invitation to dine with one who, in all likelihood, had it in for Him. Humility is not about having a relationship with our betters or our lesser, it is about having no ideal who is who, because we have no reference point in ourselves.

“Lord, please help me to be self forgetful. AMEN”