The Book of Sirach exhorts us to “conduct our affairs with humility,” and through truth, honesty and perspective we can confront the pride in our hearts with this powerful (and often underappreciated) virtue.
Mass Readings – 22nd Sunday of the Year
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Both Jesus and the Psalmist show us that God knows us through-and-through. Rather than pretend (and become hypocrites,) we have the opportunity today to acknowledge our sins with humility and receive the grace of God.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 21st Week of the Year (St. Monica)
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Study: Reflect on a person who loves selflessly. What qualities do you see in their behavior toward others?
Pray: Ask the Lord for the awareness to see more clearly the needs of others, and the grace to respond with love.
Serve: How might you make a sacrifice to help someone? How might you let go of what you want in order to assist another in need?
Mass Readings – 22nd Sunday of the Year
The theme of humility surfaces throughout the readings this week. Check this out:
What does humility mean? What does it mean to say that a person is humble? The word is often misunderstood and misused, and yet it is an important concept in the Scriptures and Church teaching.
At it’s heart, humility is about our perspective of ourselves against a larger background. We are not the center of the universe! Rather, we understand that we exist in relationship to the Lord and one another.
God is the center and origin of our lives, from which we derive all grace and blessings. We are sustained in the mind of God, and invited to love the Lord with all our heart and mind, body and soul. For remember: the Lord loved us first, and out of love gave his Son to save us from our sins.
Yet the relationship is not just between ourselves and the Lord. We also exist in relationship to one another. We are part of a great communion of souls – both living and dead – and we are invited to grow in love of those around us.
Humility arises when we see ourselves clearly in the light of these relationships. We understand that our needs and wants are always set in the context of other (often far greater) concerns. When this happens we grow in awareness of how our lives interact and weave together, fostering communication, cooperation, and respect.
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Note: This post was first published on August 22, 2016.
Matthew’s Gospel offers a couple of key insights into God’s love for humanity. The Lord seeks us out when we are lost and astray with a compassion that knows no limit; our task is to humbly receive this gift with the openness of a little child.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 19th Week of the Year
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Sometimes we can get caught up in social status, cherishing feelings of importance and respect. In the Gospel today Jesus reminds us that true greatness lies in how we offer our lives, directing us away from external accolades and turning us toward the beauty of a life of humble service.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 30th Week of the Year
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The Scriptures today reveal the awesome power of God – the source of all life and grace – and helps us understand that our relationship with the Lord requires us to receive with humble respect from the Almighty as we share the gifts we have been given with grateful hearts.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 20th Week of the Year
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Today offers two options for the Gospel reading – the baptism of Jesus in Mark or the genealogy of Christ in Luke – and reveals to us the humble, simple and open manner in which the Lord meets us in our human weakness.
Mass Readings – Christmas weekday
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Photo Credit: Son of God, 2014
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 30th Week of the Year
As the Lord observes people positioning themselves for places of honor at a banquet, he uses the opportunity to teach about pride and humility, inviting us to avoid making comparisons and seeking a simple approach.
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Mass Readings – Wednesday of 1st Lent
God calls every generation to repentance as we observe in the book of Jonah and the Gospel of Luke today. Rather than chase after miracles, wonders and signs, may we respond to this ongoing call to conversion of heart – turning away from sin and turning toward the Lord.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Mass Readings – 4th Sunday of the Year
Humility happens when we are simultaneously aware of our sins and acknowledge God’s grace. When we bring together this understanding of our sinfulness and God’s mercy we can be honest with ourselves and thus approach the Lord and others with a humble heart.
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