FIRST READING
“He humbled himself, therefore God has highly exalted him. ”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians (Philippians 2:5- 11)
Brethren: Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 22:26b-27.28.29-3tl.3 1-32 (R. 26a)
R/. You are my praise, Lord, in the great assembly.
My vows I will pay before those who fear him.
The poor shall eat and shall have their fill.
They shall praise the Lord, those who seek him.
May their hearts live on forever and ever! R.
All the earth shall remember and return to the Lord,
all families of the nations worship before him. R.
For the kingdom is the Lord’s, he is ruler of the nations.
They shall worship him, all the mighty of the earth;
before him shall bow all who go down to the dust. R.
And my soul shall live for him, my descendants serve him.
They shall tell of the Lord to generations yet to come,
declare his saving justice to peoples yet unborn:
“These are the things the Lord has done.” R.
ALLELUIA Matthew 11 :28
Alleluia. Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, says the Lord. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 14:15-24)
At that time: One of those who sat at table with Jesus said to him, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!” But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for all is now ready.’ “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; please, have me excused.’ “And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them; please, have me excused.’ “And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. ’ “So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame. ’ “And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room. ’ “And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet. ”’
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
Humility, is the mother of all virtues. This virtue helps us to realize our nothingness before God and our total dependence on him. We should practice this virtue of humility in the small and great events of life after the example of Jesus Christ. God exalts the humble but humbles the eyes that are proud. God exalted Jesus and “gave him the name that is above all other names [phil 2:9ff]. If those who were invited to the banquet are not humble and ready enough to respond to God’s call, he sends out messengers to those who were not originally invited. God does not force anybody to partake in his banquet. May he give us the grace to respond to his call always.