“He has exalted the lowly,” sang Mary of her own life and all that God is doing in the world. In today’s reflection from the Daily Mass Readings we explore what it means for the humble to be exalted.
The readings for Saturday of Week Thirty can be found here
Every river, no matter its length, width or depth begins somewhere—maybe a small spring or a lake, slowly gathering momentum, washing through the earth until it becomes the size it is and then out to sea to even great depths.
Great rivers like the Amazon and Nile, the Tiber and the Thames all have its source, even though the source of some of them are disputed.
There may be no mention of a river in the gospel reading today—Jesus is dining at the home of a ruler of the Pharisees. Whilst they are watching him, he is observing them, and sees how they assume great privilege by taking the seats of honour. They have such a high opinion of themselves. However, he advises them to do the opposite. Humble yourselves so that you may be raised higher— which is less shameful than being asked to give up your seat for someone more important than you are.
As a small spring can become a surging river, so too can those who consider themselves little become exalted. God can make a mountain out of a molehill. We only have to looks to Mary, whose memory we venerate today, to see how God regards the humble. In her Magnificat song in the hill country of a Judah that’s what she sings. “He has exalted the lowly and pulled down princes from their thrones.”
One old proverb says, “No river can return to its source but every river has its beginnings.” Tomorrow, we celebrate the feast of All Saints—how God’s grace has triumphed in the lives of so many and exalted them to the life of Heaven. It may be worth remembering, to quote Oscar Wilde in his play, A Woman of No Importance, that “Every saint a has a past and every sinner a future.”
Mass today is at S Mary’s Church, Butetown at 1130am
South Cardiff Ministry Area 