There was a song by Billy Joel called "Honesty" and he sang that it was "such a lonely word. It is hardly ever heard." One could also say that about humility. Yet, that virtue is what we are given to reflect on today: "My child, perform your tasks with humility" (Sir 3: 17) and "For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." (Lk 14: 11) How are we best able to attain this humility? It is certainly not to be found in self abasement and false humility which are really pride in disguise and disingenuous. The key to this important attitude is found in our second reading: "But you have come to Mount Zion..." (Heb 12: 22) It is in the encounter with the mystery of God and the awe that we feel at his love and mercy that we are able to put ourselves into true perspective and know our real significance in the scheme of things. This means that we will not be prone to self promotion or peg our self-esteem on the approval of others. Not for us to "keep up with the Joneses." Our hearts can then be turned to pleasing the Lord. He asks us to imitate God in his generosity with no need of return: "But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." (Lk 14: 13-14)
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