I am pleased to welcome Fr. David Nixon back to Precious Blood! He will be filling in while I am on vacation.

Humble Service

Our appreciation for the quality of humility grows when we encounter the very opposite in people. Meeting the person who is “arrogant”, “full of themselves” or nursing an “inflated ego” makes us wish they were more humble! Some of our best-loved family members, friends, even leaders, celebrities or sports stars are those who have not gone the route of status and privilege-seeking but instead remain down to earth. The very words “humble” and “humility” (and “human”) come from the Latin “humus” which means of the earth or soil.

Jesus wants us to learn, appreciate and live by the virtue of humility. What he says in today’s Gospel indicates this but, as usual with Jesus, what he does and the way he acts continually reinforce His message of humble, servant leadership.

Both the guest list and the behavior of the guests at lavish banquets and celebrations in Jesus’ time were a study in themselves! Whatever the celebration or the occasion, the aim was to impress and influence by having the list of invitees read like a “Who’s Who” in the society of the time. The rich and famous, the movers and shakers were the ones to surround yourself with if you wanted to make the right impression and image was everything! Making a grand entrance was important, too, and making it to a good seat was nothing less than a competition. Who you knew, who you were seen with, how you looked, what you had and how you spoke were all added up to measure your worth and standing.

All this was the ideal backdrop for Jesus to use for teaching about humility. Inviting the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame would have been unheard of. They didn’t deserve to be invited and their presence would only bring shame and scandal. Yet they are at the top of Jesus’ list for dining at the Heavenly Banquet. What’s more their entrance is not attention seeking and they choose the lowliest place available.

By taking human flesh and choosing to share our lot, Jesus gives us the greatest example of humility ever known. He is humbler yet, even accepting death, death on a cross. Furthermore, on the night before he dies on that cross, when he can do or say anything to leave as an impressive legacy, watch what he does! Instead of choosing to have the world at his feet, he kneels down at the feet of the world and washes those dirty feet!

He came not to be served but to serve and to give His life for each of us. Now we are called to go and do the same. What humble service are we being called to this week? How will we respond?

Bible Study

Wednesday, September 15, 2010 – 6:00 to 8:00 PM, in the PLC

Sponsored by Small Christian Communities, All Parishioners Welcome!

Do you know… the difference between our Catholic bible and the Protestant bible? …how and why our Catholic Catechism is written the way it is and has been for centuries? …the Salvation History as well as the Secular History during the different periods of the bible?

Sign up for “The Great Adventure, a Journey Through the Bible” to learn the answers to these questions and much more.

Come preview the introduction and see if it is something you would be interested in. This is a 24-week study that will take us through the Lenten season and will have a cost of $25.00 for materials. To learn more about this study, contact Elva Horlings at 843-240-0365 or 843-235-3196.