Daily Gospel Reflection for October 31, 2020

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

There's a scene in the Avengers movies where the heroes are sitting around enjoying a well-earned drink, and the conversation turns to Thor's hammer, Mjølnir, a weapon that can only be wielded by one who is "worthy". For Thor, it lifts and swings easily; but for everyone else, the hammer won't budge (though Captain America seems to scoot it just a little bit.) Over the course of the series, Thor himself loses the power of Mjølnir after a deadly act of vengeance, and doesn't regain it until he has made an act of heroic self-sacrifice.

Why on earth do I mention this story in the context of this parable about humility?

Because the spiritual life has a lot to do with humility. There are so many graces waiting for us, so many gifts God wants to give us. And often, the only barrier to our receiving them is our pride. We think we can do it all ourselves - that somehow, we possess the power to do anything we want in our lives without God's help. In a sense, the graces of the spiritual life are a weapon of incredible power to defeat sin and the devil. We try and fail to wield that power because we simply reach out and grab for it, trying to fight under our own steam, trying to fix our own problems and achieve the highest place of holiness.

But pride doesn't make us worthy, or win us the highest place or the greatest power. Pride doesn't get us to heaven. What does? Humility. Knowing our strengths and weaknesses, and placing them at the service of others. Acting for others rather than ourselves. And most of all, opening our hearts to let God work in and through us, giving us all the graces He wants to give, making us worthy of eternal life with Him.

Ponder:

Where in my spiritual life am I grasping for greatness under my own steam, rather than letting God work in my soul?

Pray:

Heavenly Father, You want to make me a saint, but I get in my own way by grasping for holiness. Help me to grow in true humility so that I can receive the incredible gifts of grace You will for me.