The golden thread that runs through the readings today, Philippians 2:1-4 and Luke 14:12-14, is humility.
Humility can be difficult to describe. Is it being quiet and introspective? Just because someone doesn’t make a lot of noise does not necessarily mean that they are humble. So what is it? I think we see it come into focus very clearly in the first reading. “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also everyone for those of others.”
In my book, Magnetic Christianity, I list humility as one of the eleven attributes of the Magnetic Christian. In fact, this passage from Philippians 2 is one that I highlight in the book. In the Gospel reading today, Jesus tells a Pharisee to invite people to his banquets who cannot repay him – not necessarily in a monetary way, but rather a I’ll-scratch-your-back-and-you-scratch-mine sort of way. Humility is all about being other-centered. When we stop always looking out for #1, when we stop insisting that the universe revolve around us, then we begin to allow the seeds of humility to blossom in our lives.
If you would like to read more about Humility and the other attributes of the Magnetic Christian, get a copy of Magnetic Christianity today at www.GusLloyd.com.
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