Humility Pays

On a visit to the Beethoven Museum in Bonn, a young American student became fascinated by the piano on which Beethoven had composed some of his greatest works. She asked the museum guard if she could play a few bars on it; she accompanied the request with a lavish tip, and the guard agreed. The girl, then, tinkled out the opening of the Moolight Sonata. As she was leaving, she asked the guard, “I suppose all the great pianist who come here want to play on the piano.” The guard shook his head. “Padarewski, the famed Polish pianist, was here a few years ago and he said he wasn’t worthy to touch it.” Humility is the characteristic of great men. Someone said, “be humble or you’ll stumble.”

In today’s gospel, one of the lessons Jesus points out through his parable is on the necessity of humility. When invited on a wedding banquet, Jesus proposes, it would be advisable not to occupy the places of honor at the table; it may be reserved for a more distinguished guest. If, on the other hand, the host will invite a guest who was seated at the lowest place to come up higher, his humility has gained him honor and esteem from among his peers. “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Indeed, it pays to be humble. Even when one embarks on a career in life, humility is helpful. Embracing humility helps ensure that people are inclined to build you up when you fail, not rave on your misfortune. By practicing humility one begins to earn the trust of people; one gains friends. People will perceive you as a person with depth because you are giving added value to the world and to the lives of others. Finally, the practice of humility will make you more grateful and appreciative. Indeed, with humility, you’re on the right track; you’ll never stumble. 

Prayer: Lord, teach true humility that I may not be proud and never swerve from your path. Amen. 

Accessing the Narrow Gate

Tirad Pass is a strategic mountain gap in the Cordillera Mountains of Northern Luzon. Here took place an important battle between 60 Filipino guerilla led by a 24-year old Brigadier General Gregorio del Pilar and the American forces. Pursued by more than 500 American soldiers led by General Peyton March, the Philippine Revolutionary President General Emilio Aguinaldo retreated into this mountainous terrain. To ensure his troops’ escape, he ordered the narrow pass to be defended at all cost. The hand-picked defenders were in trenches and stone barricades when the battle began on December 2, 1899. But unknown to them, an Igorot traitor led the Americans to their rear that routed the guerillas to their death. Among the casualty was Del Pillar who wrote in his diary: “I feel that this is the most glorious moment of my life. I am doing everything for my beloved country. There is no greater sacrifice.”

Our gospel shows Jesus pursuing his crucial journey towards Jerusalem, the place of his crucifixion. Along the way, he answers a key question about salvation: “how many will be saved?” A pious Jew believed that salvation was guaranteed, provided they kept the law. In other words, circumcision was enough basis to have a visa for the Kingdom of Heaven. But Jesus declares the need for constant fidelity and vigilance throughout our lives. He reminds us that, even though God wants us to be saved, we need to work at it. Salvation is never automatic based on nationality or religion. It is a pure gift from a God who is just and merciful. We simply need to “strive to enter through the narrow gate.” 

The narrow gate is the image of the difficulty and the sacrifice one has to endure to pursue heaven. Entry into the Kingdom of God demands dedication, obedience and real love. The influential St. Bernard of Clairvaux once refuted the controversial Paris theologian Peter Abelarde who suggested that Christ died not to pay a penalty but merely to demonstrate God’s love. The Abbot, instead, declared: “I was made a sinner by deriving my being from Adam; I am made just by being washed in the blood of Christ and not by Christ’s words and example.” In other words, a real sharing in the pain and suffering of Christ in Calvary, in faith and love, also guarantees our entry into the Kingdom. Hence, there is no greater sacrifice. 

Prayer: Lord, let me keep running toward the Kingdom by striving to enter through the narrow door of dedication, obedience and love for you.

Aflamed with Jesus

In her book, Setting the World on Fire, American journalist Shelley Emling narrates the fascinating story of St. Catherine of Siena, who transformed her times armed with her faith. In a time of social unrest, plague and corruption in Church and society, this mystic and headstrong daughter of a wool dyer became a theological giant offering moral guidance and inspiration to kings and popes. She worked as a peacemaker during Siena’s revolution and became a guiding light even to ordinary people. Having visions of Jesus as a young age, she took a vow of celibacy dedicating her whole life in following Jesus. Though illiterate, she grew to become a great writer and approached each crisis of her time with fierce and radical conviction by seeking God’s will. She once said: “be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” 

Today’s gospel, Jesus suggests that he came to be a catalyst of change: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing.” In Jewish thought, fire was a symbol of judgment to destroy evil but purifies the just. Here Jesus reveals that his purpose is to test men’s hearts. His presence becomes a contradiction. To become his disciple is to come to a decision of surrendering one’s life to Jesus on top of family, career, likes and dislikes. This decision is what faith is all about in daily walking with God. It is this faith that transforms hearts and attitudes by giving birth to strong principles that pave a way for a new beginning in individuals and communities.

As Christians, we are challenged by our vocation to be salt and light of the world. On the day of our baptism, our parents carried a burning candle for us. Christ gave us this light as a torch to bring light to our darkness. In addition, the Holy Spirit was sent into our hearts at Confirmation to set us on fire. We now need to carry this burning torch forward courageously. Today, let us allow Jesus to touch us because everything he touches becomes new. Let us allow him to inspire us with new fervor, new energy and new enthusiasm. Let him enflame us with new vitality and vigor to cast away our doubts and fears. Let his presence in our life set the world on fire.

Prayer: Lord, touch my whole being and give me a new spirit, new energy so that so that I can be your living presence to set the world on fire. 

Preparing for the Future

A priest-friend narrated his experience of celebrating a funeral for a 22-year old young man, son of a farmer from Liloan. The cause of his death was strange: he was struck by a powerful lightning. The day he died was as ordinary as other days. Who would have thought that he would be gone so soon? When he noticed after lunch that a heavy rain would pour, he was intent in helping his father in the field despite his mother’s warning. Being a responsible son, duty was sacred for him. It was already drizzling when he arrived in their little hut. Just as he was pulling off the mobile phone charger from its socket, the forceful lightning struck. He must have been hit by a million volts of electricity that threw him on the floor lifeless. His father had to struggle to bring him to the nearest hospital but he was declared dead on arrival. Death is such a heartless traitor.

In today’s gospel reading (Lk 12:35-40), Jesus warns his disciples to be prepared. “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding.” He invites his listeners to be vigilant. The biblical approach to the future involves prayer, preparation and planning. This future may mean the Parousia or the Second Coming of Christ; but it can also refer to our own death when God tells us: “your time is up!” The Book of Revelation has an iconic description of Jesus who says: “Behold, I stand at the door and knocks” (Rev 3:20). Vigilance involves a prayerful attitude of seeking the Lord with all our heart. In the gospels, Jesus teaches his disciples about living and growing in closeness to God who is our Father.

Moreover, vigilance means preparing to deal with life as it comes. In reality, we don’t plan the future because much of what happens to us are uncontrollable. Sickness, an accident, a crisis, death of a loved one – they happen without our consent. They are beyond our control. But we need faith to believe that God has a better plan for us in the future and he desires only what is good for us. Hence, God does the planning while we do the preparing by entrusting our future to the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, grant me a great faith to trust in you by placing my future without fear into your powerful hands. Amen.