Feeling proud and pleased with a prestigious invitation, having a beautiful home, or wearing the best clothes are not in themselves bad. Rather, as always, it's how we reflect these kinds of acquisitions by our lives. We wander off the path of Christ if our attitude, whether conscious or less so, places us above any others. We are perfectly justified to be content with what we have as long as we Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have... [Hebrews 13:16] without regard to being thanked or repaid.
This has reminded me of the 1980 song by Mac Davis, O Lord It’s Hard To Be Humble [link below]. It is a funny piece and also slightly sobering. We can only do the best we can in trying not to judge those who reflect the song lyrics, or worse, recognize ourselves. In faith and by intentional attention to our own soul-work, we are more able to let mutual love continue without needing direct evidence of those hidden angels. Jesus modeled humility for us in many ways, especially with the foot washing at the Last Supper. We, as followers of Christ, are called to humility, love, and hospitality in an attitude of a lower place in this life with the blessings and grace already given us. If nothing else, I’ll try to remember that Jesus doesn't want us to be proud of our humility!
click here for Mac Davis: O Lord It's Hard To Be Humble or find on
YouTube
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ O Lord, our Constant Helper, open our hearts to let mutual love continue among all of Your people, whether known or unknown to us. Let us not neglect to show hospitality in sharing with, and caring for, all who are poor, imprisoned, or tortured in body or soul.
RESPONSE: We put our trust in You
~ O Lord, our Constant Helper, humble the souls of those who wield international, national, and local power. Guide them, and us all, to the path of leadership vested in compassion, generosity, and thoughtful justice that frees us all from hatred and violence. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
We put our trust in You
~ O Lord, our Constant Helper, refresh the spirits of those
laid low by serious illness or critical life circumstance, and lift the
energies of all who give support. We now join our voices to pray aloud for
those in need… add your own petitions
O God, Light in our Darkness
We put our trust in You
~ O Lord, our Constant Helper, dry the tears of the sorrowful with the comfort of knowing that our loved ones are now exalted to a place of honor at Your heavenly eternal feast. We pray especially for… add your own petitions
O God, Light in our Darkness
We put our trust in You
~ O Lord, our Constant Helper, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions
We put our trust in You
~ O Lord, our Constant Helper, we ask Your special blessings upon all who lead us in Your Church, who speak Your word to us, and teach us, by example, to imitate their faith and thoughtfully consider the outcome of our own ways of life. In the name of Jesus, our Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we pray especially for: add your own petitions
We put our trust in You
The Celebrant adds: O Lord, our God, inspire us to choose
a lower place at Your holy table than the place we offer to others, that in
humility we may entertain angels unaware. May Your name always be the fruit of
our lips and each facet of our lives reflect a continual sacrifice of praise to
You. We ask through Christ our Present and Eternal Savior; and the
Holy Spirit, the Sacred Breath of Heaven, who together with You are One God,
from before the beginning to beyond the end. Amen.
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