Dear friends,

“For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)

We are on our way to Jerusalem, to the Cross, to that narrow gate where Christ Himself has chosen to stoop from the heavens above to journey so low to us who are completely helpless, vulnerable, empty, lost, sick, dying, dead.

All three readings point to Christ, the Humble One. They point to Him in the first reading, who being the greatest, was the greatest at lowering Himself to the most proud and self-assured, self-righteous of Jerusalem.

Jesus is the Humble One of Jerusalem referred to in the second reading, whose blood was shed for us, most eloquently pleading for us to the Father for forgiveness, for healing, for salvation.

Jesus is the Host of the gospel, who has humbled Himself by leaving His throne in heaven to descend to the lowest of thrones, the Cross, to which we have nailed Him with the nails of our own addictions, our own attachments, our own sins, our inescapable deaths.

There the Humble One has chosen to dine with us, to anoint our wounds, to feed us with the bread from heaven, the true food and true drink of His own Humble Self. There He has chosen to wed Himself to us.

Let us not be afraid to go there. Let us not be ashamed to face our own poor, lame, crippled, blind selves. He is there already, waiting to raise, to exalt.