With Opened Bible

“For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." 

Jesus never proposed anything without having experienced it himself. He preached by example. There lies all his power as a rabbi. In the first reading and the Gospel for this Sunday, God invites us to be humble and discreet. Humility means lowering oneself to the earth (humus means earth in Latin). The humble servant is one who, despite his social, political, economic, and religious status, dares to humble himself before God and his plan of salvation. "My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts. Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God. (Sirach 3, 17-18) This book of Wisdom uses the language of a spiritual master to engage the disciple on the path to spiritual success. 

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus intervenes during a meal to teach the art of being humble and discreet, especially when invited. "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor...Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you, he may say, 'My friend, move up to a higher position." (Luke 14, 8-10) This attitude of reserve and simplicity echoes the very attitude of Christ in his Incarnation, his abasement. "Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name." (Philippians 2, 6-9) He put everything aside, his glory and his divinity, to borrow the human condition to save humanity. For this, God exalted and glorified him. "Humble yourself the more, the greater you are." (Sirach 3) 

Saint Peter encouraged the faithful to this same attitude: "God opposes the proud but bestows favor on the humble." So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time." (1 Peter 5:5-6) Thus, man is only great when he kneels before the all-powerful divine, and in this humility, we find the promise of divine exaltation and upliftment.