Thoughts on humility (Luke 14:7-14)

For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

This sentence made me think. How should we interpret it correctly? Are these rules still valid in our world? How should we interpret this passage of the Gospel so that we are not forced into the role of a self-sabotaging victim?

The Pharisees select the most prominent places at the feast. Who has a higher rank, who has greater prestige... who is the one who can show more in his life (recognitions) or in material things? The one who is loud, who can be seen to be well-off, deserves the recognition, the VIP place, no matter what the price...

However, a wise and intelligent person does not show off, does not draw attention to himself... I have a friend in a senior position, who, by his appearance and style (understand me correctly!) would not even say that he is a company director. He knows that  what he has achieved in life. He knows how he achieved it, and most importantly, he knows how much he is worth. He has no problem sitting in last place.

What should someone do who has no outstanding achievements, lives an average life, in modest circumstances, is never the center of attention? What will happen to him if he sits in last place? He will stay there forever...

Two different situations, two different life paths, the same place in the last row... Yet there is a huge difference that is not visible to the outside observer. The attitude. It is how we think about ourselves. It determines how we feel about being in "last" place. Do we accept it with resignation, saying that this is all we deserve, or of course.

Don't get me wrong... for someone who has been socialized into the "this is all we deserve" world of feelings, perhaps one life is not enough to overcome this, to free themselves from the mantras inherited over generations. They can achieve anything in life,  he can live in luxury, he can live abroad, his bank account can be full, he can receive awards and recognitions. Even then, the "little gray mouse" remains inside (loudly), who longs for the distinguished first place, which he could not receive until now, because those who should have given it were not able to do so. 

For me, this is where the innovation of the Gospel passage comes in. Because here the host is none other than the Father, who also awaits the prodigal son home, with just as much love. He takes on the role that our parents and grandparents were unable to fulfill. He calls us forward to the first place. He shows us that our invisible, "little gray mouse life" is just as important to him. We no longer have to yearn for the distinguished first place, we have been there from the beginning. We are both the prodigal son and the son who stayed home, to whom the Father says, "all that I have has been yours from the beginning." Richer  We are as we think, just not by the standards of this world. We have no reason to be ashamed, even in the last row...