Daily Gospel Reflection for August 28, 2022

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

In attempting to live the virtue Jesus describes in today’s Gospel, it could be very easy to fall into false humility. It’s possible that in situating ourselves in a lower place at the proverbial banquet table, we sit waiting to be raised to a higher place, expecting it even. Or we might disparage ourselves to the point of believing we don’t have a place at the table at all. In striving to be humble, we might still find that we’re comparing ourselves to others, seeing where we think we fit in among the rest. Neither of these positions honors us as God’s creations. Neither glorifies God.

C.S. Lewis wrote that humility is not thinking less of ourselves; it’s thinking of ourselves less. Jesus doesn’t want us to pretend we aren’t talented or capable or kind or loving or good at our vocations. What He wants is for us to look outward in stewarding those gifts, rather than inward. We are called to serve with what we have and to do so with joy.

The first step, then, is honestly acknowledging and accepting the gifts we’ve been given. In college, I was taught a three-question framework for deciding what to do with my life: What brings me joy? What am I good at? Who needs me to do it? These questions were presented as a means of discerning my vocation, but I think they serve equally well as an antidote to false humility and a roadmap to helping build the kingdom of God.

Ponder:

How do I understand and live out humility?

Pray:

Lord, thank You for the gifts You’ve given me. Help me to hear Your call to use them to serve You.

Click to tweet:
Jesus wants us to look outward in stewarding our gifts, rather than inward. We are called to serve with what we have and to do so with joy. #dailygospel

Daily Gospel 4