Where we have come from:
(readings for Sunday 1st September)
Proverbs 25.6-7
Psalm 112
Hebrews 13.1-8, 15-16
Luke 14.1, 7-14
Readings for today
Psalm 119:65-72
Isaiah 5.14-21
Luke 14.15-24
thought for today
After reading and thinking about all these readings over the last week, including Sunday, I begin to wonder if humility or being humble might have several aspects, at least in the scriptures.
There is being humble or lowly - because, for whatever reason, your circumstances are considerably more frugal that those in the limelight. This is akin to being poor, and as Isaiah says God will bless those in such circumstances and Jesus calls us to do the same.
There is being humbled or contrite. Having once been arrogant or disobedient (in terms of our relationship with God these are almost the same), something happens that brings us up short. We emerge with a new attitude and a sense that God has transformed us. Isaiah is also referring to this.
And there is the deliberate conscious choosing of a path of humility, of non arrogance, as part of our discipleship.
Not that these are mutually exclusive - one might lead to another. But it is no doubt that the however we get there, humility as a lifestyle is where we ought to be headed.
Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. Used by permission
No comments:
Post a Comment