Sunday, August 28
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
“God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.”
Reflection
Who among us does not like to take credit for our accomplishments? After all, it does seem natural. I remember as a child, when I did something unexpectedly well, or even when I accomplished something that I was expected to accomplish, it seemed as though there was always an adult there to praise what I had done. It is no wonder why as adults, we often look to others for praise, and feel that our accomplishments are due to our own efforts alone. We learn to exalt ourselves from a young age!
Today the Gospel of Luke reminds us that everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted. Jesus uses the example of an invited guest at a wedding who assumes that he is to be seated at the head table and is asked to move down to make way for a more important guest. We do not want that to be the case when it comes to eternal life. How much better it will be for us if we live our life doing the very best we can, and attributing our success to the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, if we lead a life, full of thanksgiving for the graces that God gives us and live as Christ has taught; if we credit the activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives as opposed to taking credit for our accomplishments; then perhaps, if we reach the heavenly Kingdom, Christ will exalt us and give us a place of honor for cooperating with God’s plan for our life on earth.
Peace,
Fr. John Kurgan
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