Saturday, October 29, 2016

Humility or Humiliation?

BEADS OF JOY 10-29-16
“Humility or Humiliation?”
©2016 James Dacey, Jr. OFS

My Friends,



Today’s Gospel: Luke 14:1,7-11 (Humility or Humiliation?)
“One Sabbath when he went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him.

Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he marked how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, "When you are invited by anyone to a marriage feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest a more eminent man than you be invited by him; and he who invited you both will come and say to you, `Give place to this man,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 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."

Reflection:
What is true humility? Why should you take on the characteristics of humility in your life anyway? Who wants to be last? If I am humble does that mean I must always be last? Now there’s no need to get your feathers all ruffled about this. Humility in God’s eyes is a good thing. True humility just takes our pre-occupational thoughts off ourselves; so, that we don’t see ourselves as better than others. Kind of a sobering thought of equality, that is all. Also, humility is the opposite of pride; so being humble helps keep our pride and selfishness in check. We are neither better or worse than anyone else, we are simple equal with them.

Humility is our true self in action, we become honest and real; making ourselves better in the person we really are. We will serve others better when we are humble for the desire of serving them; without having our own selfish desires getting in the way. The true humble person seeks only to serve; they do not seek fame or fortune or any sort of gain when they serve. Success is not in the vocabulary of the humble. Only in successfully helping and serving others. Humility is about giving, not taking. Even in giving the front seats to others. How do you drive out there on the road? Are you courteous? Do you LET others cut in front of you? Do you let someone take the front parking spot? Do you slow down to let someone in? Think about how you can be humble in your everyday life in the simplest things.

Humility is not about being weak, no, no; on the contrary, to be humble one must be strong in self-control and thoughtfulness. You must be thinking all the time about others before yourself, in order to be a sincerely humble individual. Weak selfish people place themselves first all the time; always thinking, only about themselves. It is by God’s grace that you have the strength to live the life of humility. Just think of how truly wonderfully at peace this world would be, our communities would be, our families would be, our friendships would be; if all of us would live the life of humility to its fullest. Selfishness, pride and greed have been the destruction of much around us. But, humility can be the saving grace to all of it. If more and more of us put others first before ourselves; little by little, more and more peace will prevail around us. Just a thought. Keep smiling my sisters and brothers, talk to you again tomorrow.



LOVE YOU GUYS !!!!

Your brother in Christ Jesus 
And His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr OFS

**(NEW DAILY FEATURE)

Today is Saturday: We pray the Joyful Mysteries:

The Joyful Mysteries

1. The Annunciation (Humility) – Luke 1:26-28
2. The Visitation (Love of Neighbor) – Luke 1:39-45
3. The Birth of Jesus (Poverty of Spirit) – Luke 2:1-20
4. The Presentation (Purity of Mind and Spirit) – Luke 2:22-38
5. Finding in The Temple (Obedience) –Luke 2:41-50

I simply love Saturday mornings, because Saturday like every other day of the week -begins with the Rosary.

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