People often confuse humility with a sense of unworthiness or a lack of self-esteem. But humility is a virtue of internal strength and fearlessness. It is an awareness of who we are in relationship with God. A humble person does not think they are beyond their own servanthood. The humble person if he is intelligent and wise appreciates proverbs and always listens before he speaks.

The humble person seeks to understand the true human condition and offer God’s goodness to the poor; to people without families and by becoming companions for those who are forsaken or imprisoned.

Today, as a parish struggling to perfect the virtuous life both as individuals and as a community, we approach this Stone Altar and offer sacrifice for those who feel they cannot worship here because of arrogance, sloth or indifference.

On this Sabbath Jesus comes to dine in our home. He offers the table as a perfect metaphor for our seeking humility. Go, rather, go to the lowest place. It is there, in the chair of the least that we will find humility as the keystone to all the virtues.  “For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Are we ready to  receive as our guests the  stranger, the crippled and the lame? Or will we become indifferent and show no respect for our guests?

Holiness, my friends is always found in their inability to repay. Joy is found in our willingness to give.