A WORD FOR TODAY 28 AUGUST 2022

A WORD FOR TODAY 28 AUGUST 2022


 

*A WORD FOR TODAY*

*STAY HUMBLE IN SERVICE AND YOUR TIME OF EXALTATION WILL SURELY COME*

_"But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”(Luke 14:10-11)_

_*Humility is the mother of all virtues that any serious follower of Christ must strive everyday to possess and put on as a garment as we journey in this life. It is a virtue that makes you to be like Christ and to act in accordance to His will. (Matthew 11:29)*_

_The Devil was thrown out of God's kingdom because of pride and it is the same vice that will make us to lose our place in God's presence if we fail to uproot it from our hearts and humble ourselves everyday before Him so that He will exalt us in due time.(I Peter 5:6_

*Humility gives you favour*

_*In the first reading of today the author of the book of Sirach reminds us that humility is the surest way to gain favour in God's sight. The greater you are, the more humble you must be. When you are humble and meek, your attitude will glorify God, but pride and arrogance put Him off from you. The admonition of Sirach is very essential to us in this time in our world where pride and arrogance is destroying a lot of people.*_

*God shows Himself to the Humble*

_A humble heart is a perfect place for God to dwell and such people are always privileged to receive the mysteries of God and in them, God is glorified forever. We see this in the Blessed Virgin Mary(Luke 1:26-56), in Zechariah, (Luke 1:5-25), in John (John 1:1-37). We also see the humility of Christ in accepting to come and die for us in accordance to the will of the Father (Philippians 2:1-11). The Scripture is filled with examples of men and women who humbled themselves to follow God and He was pleased with them and blessed them._

*Jesus, our teacher in Humility*

_*Jesus in the gospel reading used the opportunity of his visit to the ruler's house to give them a teaching in humility. He knew how they wanted to use the opportunity to gather who is who in the community, but He told them that the way to rise and be exalted is to stay humble. If you truly want to learn about humility and practically become humble, you must look at Jesus and follow His example everyday.*_

*Use your gift from God for God*
_God has given us his gifts, but we must not use it to show off, be boastful, massage our ego and intimidate others, instead, we must stay humble and use it for the service of God in the people (Matthew 23:11-12 he who is the greatest among you must be your servant) and in this way, you will be ready for the reward that will come to you at the appointed time._

*Who is a humble person*

* He is the one who inspite of his exalted position, makes himself the servant of all.

*The one keeps his head bowed down, like one ever ready to receive orders from his superiors.*

* One who does not hide his talents because He does not wish to serve.

*The reward of Humility*

- They are saved : Psalm 18:27 "you save the humble but bring low those who whose eyes are proud."

*- They are guided: Psalm 25:9 "He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his ways."*

- They are the delight of the Lord Psalm 149:4 "He crowns thevhumble with salvation"

*- They are exalted: Matthew 23:12 "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles Himself will be exalted" The exaltation comes in the form of promotion, upliftment, breakthrough, divine favour e.t.c.*

_When we come into the presence of God we come to mount Zion as the second reading tells us. You must learn from Jesus' humility, because that is the way of God. He is the king of king and at His birth there was no place for Him to be born, but in a borrowed manger and at his death, there was no place for Him to be buried but in a borrowed tomb from Joseph. He became nothing, so that through His humility and poverty we shall become rich._

_*Stay humble because you don't know everything, stay humble because you learn and grow through it. Stay humble because it helps you to be generous in service and makes you to be patient in suffering and persecution. Stay humble because that is the only means and channel through which you will be exalted by the Lord at His own time. (Peter Cardinal Okpaleke as a perfect example)*_

_Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you begin your day and do have a splendid Sunday. May the grace of humility be given to you by God and may your humility bring you exaltation in due time. Amen. *And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.*_

*Meditation:* Sirach 3:17-20,28-29/Psalm 68:4-7,20-11/Hebrews 12:18-19,22-24/Luke 14:1,7-14

*Watch-Word:* In your goodness, O God, you provided for the poor.

*God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. Proverbs 3:34. Stay humble and your exaltation will surely come*

(Twenty-Second Sunday in the ordinary time. Cycle C. Memorial of St. Augustine my patron)

*© Rev. Fr. Augustine Eleke*