Thirsty

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/102916.cfm) reminds me that I should always be thirsty for God and remain humble. 

They say that humility is not thinking less at yourself. There is no need to. We were all created by God. We are all his masterpieces. We are all wonderfully made. So there is no reason to think less of ourself, or feel inferior to others. That is not humility. Rather, humility is thinking of ourselves less. And as we think of ourselves less, we think of others more. We think of God more. 

We can only remain humble if we focus on God and not on ourselves. 

It is easy to be drowned with power and success in this world. Powerful and influential people at work or in society tend to internalize their situation. They feel they are a cut above the rest. They feel everyone should bow down and respect them. It is easy to be distracted by the world. This is what Jesus tells us in the gospel. We should not aspire for places of honor. We should not focus too much on ourselves, our worldly worth, on our influence, power and accomplishments. There would always be someone greater than us - both in this world and in the next. Instead, God wants us to focus on him. 

The psalmist tells us how to focus on God. He tells us what we should do. We should thirst for God. We should remain hungry for God. We should search for God. We should fill our life with God. It is only by doing this that we will have the right perspective, that we will remain humble, that we will be able to live in the way God wants us to. 

May we always be thirsty for God and be humble as we live, focusing on Him and not on ourselves.  

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another day to love and serve you. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I think to much of myself. Sorry for the times I focus on my worldly accomplishments. Sorry for the times I am not humble. Lord, help me live right. I humble myself and acknowledge that you are my God. I humble myself and acknowledge that without you, I am nothing. May my focus always be on you. May I always thirst for you, and may I do actions to quench that thirst. Amen. 

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

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October 29, 2016
Saturday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 484

Reading 1 Phil 1:18b-26

Brothers and sisters:
As long as in every way, whether in pretense or in truth,
Christ is being proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

Indeed I shall continue to rejoice,
for I know that this will result in deliverance for me
through your prayers and support from the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
My eager expectation and hope
is that I shall not be put to shame in any way,
but that with all boldness, now as always,
Christ will be magnified in my body,
whether by life or by death.
For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.
If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.
And I do not know which I shall choose.
I am caught between the two.
I long to depart this life and be with Christ,
for that is far better.
Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit.
And this I know with confidence,
that I shall remain and continue in the service of all of you
for your progress and joy in the faith,
so that your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound on account of me
when I come to you again.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 42:2, 3, 5cdef

R. My soul is thirsting for the living God.
As the hind longs for the running waters,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
R. My soul is thirsting for the living God.
Athirst is my soul for God, the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?
R. My soul is thirsting for the living God.
I went with the throng
and led them in procession to the house of God.
Amid loud cries of joy and thanksgiving,
with the multitude keeping festival.
R. My soul is thirsting for the living God.

Alleluia Mt 11:29ab

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 14:1, 7-11

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,
and the people there were observing him carefully.

He told a parable to those who had been invited,
noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.
“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet,
do not recline at table in the place of honor.
A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,
and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say,
‘Give your place to this man,’
and then you would proceed with embarrassment
to take the lowest place.
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.’
Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”