For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled? ? Luke 14:11

There is value in keeping a low profile and being silent. It prevents embarrassment, you commit less mistakes, it gives you time to think, it makes you look intelligent (ha,ha) and it helps you learn.
      According to personality tests?I am a certified sanguine-choleric. I love to get attention, be the life of the party, be hungry for recognition and work with a lot of people. I am a people person. But I also go for results and I drive it. Many times I am wrong but never in doubt. I am not a person who wants to keep a low profile.
      This personality bend has its advantages and disadvantages. But somehow the Lord has allowed me to go thru a number of humbling experiences that allowed me to step back, keep a low profile, be silent and think.
      My mind can only process one thought at a time. When I talk, I fail to listen and I don?t learn.
      Somehow I hear Him more when sit at his feet in silence and humility. Ariel D.

REFLECTION:
Do you know when it?s time to talk and when it?s time to keep quiet?

Father, teach me the humble ways of Your Son.

G O S P E L

Luke 14:1.7-11

Humility is one of those graces and virtues that is essential to a life of holiness. Without humility holiness is in fact impossible, as a person will tend to become so proud and arrogant that they are unable to surrender themselves to the work of the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit there is no way we can grow in holiness. The best that we can achieve on our own is a certain level of humanitarianism that is not a substitute for holiness. The specific character of Christian holiness is something that is unique and provides a powerful witness to the Gospel that has no equal.

1 On a sabbath he went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. 7 He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. 8 ?When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, 9 and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ?Give your place to this man,? and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. 10 Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ?My friend, move up to a higher position.? Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.?
  
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Luke 11-12

Some time ago, I had a quiet merienda with three friends in a fastfood restaurant. Then in comes a guy and joins some companions at the neighboring table. He was talking so loud and arrogantly that the whole restaurant could hear. One of my friends commented, ?That guy thinks he owns the place, acting like he is almighty God.? Wrong! A person who acts arrogant and proud is not acting like almighty God, but like the devil who wanted to be like God.
       We have heard yesterday that the Pharisee observed Jesus carefully. At the same dinner, Jesus also observed them carefully. Obviously, some of them had crambled for the places of honor while Jesus had taken the lowest place. It was a lesson in humility. One of the characteristics of really great persons is humility. Humility is not weakness or cowardice. Only strong persons can be genuinely humble.How do we develop this difficult virtue of humility in order to become more  Christ-like? First of all, we need to be realistic and realize three things:  No matter how much, I know, it is still very little compared with all the knowledge  in the world. Second, while I might have achieved something so far in life,  it comes up to very little in the end. And thirdly, although I may have an important position right now, when I retire or die tomorrow, life and work will go on just the same without me.
      Humility can also be learned by comparing ourselves to really great persons, to saints. But the best way to learn this virtue is to look at the Son of God: born in a dirty stable, a refugee, a carpenter working every day to earn his living. The Son of God who mingles with the sinners, the sick, the outcasts. The Son of God who takes the lowest place at the Pharisee?s banquet. The Son of God who allowed himself to be beaten and killed in the most shameful way. And at his side the Mother, immaculate, holy and pure, and yet living a simple, hidden life, suffering silently with her Son. Here we have the two greatest persons who ever lived on earth, and both are models of humility. As we said before: Only great persons can be truly humble. Fr. Rudy H.

REFLECTION QUESTION:
What makes me proud? What hinders me to be more humble? How can I practice humility in concrete situations of my life?

Lord, You humbled yourself to become one like us except sin. You lived a life in humility and service. Help me conquer the pride that so often overpowers me. Remind me to look at You, at your Cross in order to become more like You and Your beloved Mother? truly humble.

St. Charles Borromeo, bishop confessor, pray for us.