Listener with Sensible Heart
Sirach 3, 17-18. 20. 28-29; Psalm 68; Hebrews 12, 18-19. 22-24a; Luke 14, 1. 7-14
“The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself” (Sir 3:18). Who is greater than our Lord Jesus? And yet, “though he was in the form of God, He emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant” (Phil 2:6-7). We see this service in the scene of washing the disciples’ feet (John 13:5). Jesus’ ’emptying’ continues all the way to the cross (Phil 2:8). He “came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45).
“Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart” (Mt 11:29). Being meek and humble of heart brings special blessing – inheriting the land (Mt 5:5). In the psalm we sing: “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein” (Ps 24:1). Jesus is the Lord. Instead of mounting chariots and horses like the mighty kings of this world, this righteous and humble king of Zion mounts a donkey. The prophet foretells that “His rule shall be from sea to sea” (Zechariah 9:9-10). And so it happened. After His death, the risen Lord stood among His disciples and said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Mt 28:18).
“Learn from me” (Mt 11:29). Jesus teaches us to search for the lowest places as guests (Lk 14:10), and as hosts to invite those who cannot repay our generosity (Lk 14:14). And He is our example in this. From Bethlehem to the Cross, He always chose the lowest place, “therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name” (Phil 2:9). At every mass He is our Host and majority of us participating in the Eucharist are neither wise according to worldly standards, nor powerful, nor of noble birth (1 Cor 1:26). Why? “So that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Cor 1:27-29).
Invited to the eucharistic banquet, we participate in something greater than the earthly liturgy of Israel (Hebr 12:18-19). The Eucharist “unites heaven and earth” (St. John Paul II). During the Eucharist we approach “the heavenly Jerusalem” (Hebr 12:22). We stand around the throne of “God the judge of all”; Jesus, “the mediator of a new covenant” is in our midst; and we are surrounded by angels and saint (Hebr 12:22-24). The wine offered on the altar becomes Jesus’ blood “that speaks more eloquently that that of Abel” (Hebr 12:24). This blood does not call for retribution (Gen 4:10; Hebr 11:4) but for mercy and forgiveness (Lk 23:34).
Jesus was invited to “eat bread at home of one of the leading Pharisees” (Lk 14:1). It was not a pleasant experience – everybody was watching Him. On the other hand, to “eat bread” in God’s kingdom is a blessing (Lk 14:15). In the first years of Christianity, the Eucharist was called “the breaking of bread” (Acts 2:42), and Jesus descending on our altars is the “Bread of Life” (John 6:48). By participating in the Eucharist we experience the blessing of those who “eat bread in the kingdom of God” (Luke 14:15).
“The heart of the sensible will reflect on parables, an attentive ear is the joy of the wise” (Sir 3:29). Jesus, the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:30), told everyone in the house of a Pharisee a parable (Lk 14:7). He desired to find listeners with sensible heart who would reflect on His words and change their life. We do not know whether he found them there. Will He find them among us who participate in the Eucharist? Will we learn from Jesus the meekness and humility of heart that lead to true greatness? Many are haughty and proud, but God reveals his secrets to the meek and they shall find grace with the Lord (Sir 3:18; Mt 11:25).
You can also visit the author's page: Reading Bible
Sirach 3, 17-18. 20. 28-29; Psalm 68; Hebrews 12, 18-19. 22-24a; Luke 14, 1. 7-14
“The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself” (Sir 3:18). Who is greater than our Lord Jesus? And yet, “though he was in the form of God, He emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant” (Phil 2:6-7). We see this service in the scene of washing the disciples’ feet (John 13:5). Jesus’ ’emptying’ continues all the way to the cross (Phil 2:8). He “came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45).
“Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart” (Mt 11:29). Being meek and humble of heart brings special blessing – inheriting the land (Mt 5:5). In the psalm we sing: “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein” (Ps 24:1). Jesus is the Lord. Instead of mounting chariots and horses like the mighty kings of this world, this righteous and humble king of Zion mounts a donkey. The prophet foretells that “His rule shall be from sea to sea” (Zechariah 9:9-10). And so it happened. After His death, the risen Lord stood among His disciples and said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Mt 28:18).
“Learn from me” (Mt 11:29). Jesus teaches us to search for the lowest places as guests (Lk 14:10), and as hosts to invite those who cannot repay our generosity (Lk 14:14). And He is our example in this. From Bethlehem to the Cross, He always chose the lowest place, “therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name” (Phil 2:9). At every mass He is our Host and majority of us participating in the Eucharist are neither wise according to worldly standards, nor powerful, nor of noble birth (1 Cor 1:26). Why? “So that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Cor 1:27-29).
Invited to the eucharistic banquet, we participate in something greater than the earthly liturgy of Israel (Hebr 12:18-19). The Eucharist “unites heaven and earth” (St. John Paul II). During the Eucharist we approach “the heavenly Jerusalem” (Hebr 12:22). We stand around the throne of “God the judge of all”; Jesus, “the mediator of a new covenant” is in our midst; and we are surrounded by angels and saint (Hebr 12:22-24). The wine offered on the altar becomes Jesus’ blood “that speaks more eloquently that that of Abel” (Hebr 12:24). This blood does not call for retribution (Gen 4:10; Hebr 11:4) but for mercy and forgiveness (Lk 23:34).
Jesus was invited to “eat bread at home of one of the leading Pharisees” (Lk 14:1). It was not a pleasant experience – everybody was watching Him. On the other hand, to “eat bread” in God’s kingdom is a blessing (Lk 14:15). In the first years of Christianity, the Eucharist was called “the breaking of bread” (Acts 2:42), and Jesus descending on our altars is the “Bread of Life” (John 6:48). By participating in the Eucharist we experience the blessing of those who “eat bread in the kingdom of God” (Luke 14:15).
“The heart of the sensible will reflect on parables, an attentive ear is the joy of the wise” (Sir 3:29). Jesus, the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:30), told everyone in the house of a Pharisee a parable (Lk 14:7). He desired to find listeners with sensible heart who would reflect on His words and change their life. We do not know whether he found them there. Will He find them among us who participate in the Eucharist? Will we learn from Jesus the meekness and humility of heart that lead to true greatness? Many are haughty and proud, but God reveals his secrets to the meek and they shall find grace with the Lord (Sir 3:18; Mt 11:25).
You can also visit the author's page: Reading Bible