Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 14:1, 7-14) today's readings).

Jesus told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, 'Give your place to this man,' and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place."

Jesus says this to guests present at a banquet of one of the leading Pharisees—an incisive teaching for all present who observe and hear him. Jesus witnesses the guests taking places of honor at the table and shares a parable with them about humility and the position you perceive yourself to hold. It ends with a consequence that is often disregarded: "For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." In the first reading, Sirach speaks similar words to a beloved hearer: "My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts. Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God." Jesus invites us to take up the yoke of humility, to learn from him in being humble of heart.

God, help me today to accept the invitation of Jesus to be meek and humble. At the same time, give me the opportunity today to be a means of your love to someone who may not be able to respond in kind. "Blessed indeed will you be, Jesus says, "because of their inability to repay you." Pour out generously the gifts of understanding and wisdom when I struggle or resist finding the purpose in the yoke Jesus invites me to take up. Seeing and receiving it is more than I can do on my own, and I depend on you to guide me. God, come to my assistance; Lord, make haste to help me!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Banquet_in_the_House_of_Levi_by_Paolo_Veronese_-_Accademia_-_Venice_2016_(2).jpg