Gospel Reflection

This week’s Gospel from Luke calls us to embrace humility and see the world through a different lens. In this Gospel passage, Jesus shares a simple, yet profound, teaching on humility. He observes guests at a dinner party scrambling for the seats of honour, and he uses this moment to offer a new perspective on how we should approach our place in the world. Instead of seeking the highest position, Jesus advises us to take the lowest place. He promises that “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” He goes on to tell the host not to invite only friends and family, but also the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, because they cannot repay him. In doing so, he teaches that true reward comes from serving without expectation of return.

In a world that constantly encourages us to push ourselves and our children forward, this message can feel counter-cultural. Social media often rewards those with the most followers, likes, or public achievements. For parents, our greatest desire is often for our children to succeed and have a life of honour, and we can easily fall into the trap of seeking places of honour for our families.

Jesus offers a different path. True humility isn’t about thinking less of yourself, but about thinking of yourself less often. As parents, our role is not just to advocate for our children’s success but to teach them the value of grace and kindness. It’s about helping them understand that their worth isn’t tied to their achievements but to the person they are becoming. It’s about letting go of our own pride and trusting them to find their way, knowing that a humble spirit is a far greater achievement than any award or title.

For teenagers, this means celebrating a friend’s success without feeling jealous. It means being willing to ask for help when you don’t understand something in class. It means serving others on a team even if it’s not the most glamorous role. Humility allows us to be truly present for others and to find our value not in a high rank, but in the simple act of being a kind and genuine person. By taking the lowest place, we create space for authentic connection and true joy.

This passage is a gentle reminder for us all that our worth is not measured by how high we climb on the social or economic ladder. Jesus’s teaching calls us to a different kind of life—one where we model humility by apologising for our mistakes, serving our community quietly, and being grateful for the simple blessings in our lives. When we teach our children that true honour comes from a heart of service, we give them a foundation that can never be shaken. We are teaching them that in God’s kingdom, the last are first, and those who humbly serve are the ones who are truly exalted.

Antoinette Nader
Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)