Rector's Reflection: Humble, not Humiliated, August 30, 2025

Beloved Members of St. Martin's,

This week our lectionary reading focus on a concept that seems to have almost disappeared: humility. Sometimes it feels like everything we see and hear on TV and online is about trying to mimic the rich and powerful-- shows in which an unrealistic way of life is promoted as part of "the American Dream. I think about business empires what some people think are TV shows, like "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," of "The Real Housewives of [Some Big City]. There couldn't be anything LESS real than these so-called "reality TV" shows, and yet the personnel and their various dramas consistently draw high ratings. Sure, some of it is simple escapism. And maybe some people watch to reassure themselves that the rich can be just as ridiculous as the rest of us-- but that's not very kind, either.

In this week's lectionary, we start our consideration of humility with what is probably the shortest selection from the Hebrew scriptures EVER in the lectionary. It's from the Book of Proverbs, one of the wisdom books attributed to wise King Solomon, David's son and successor. Here it is in its entirety:

Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence

or stand in the place of the great;

for it is better to be told, "Come up here,

than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

This proverb relates directly to the admonition of Jesus in our reading from Luke's gospel. At first glance, one might make the argument that this advice reflects a false humility-- a way of gaining attention to yourself by pretending to be modest when really you DO think yourself worthy to sit among the great and powerful.

Would Jesus advise such a trick? The evidence elsewhere points to "no." so how else might we interpret this piece of advice. Of course, in the culture in which Jesus lived, there was a strict social hierarchy, especially at meals. One did not eat with those viewed beneath them, so the range between the seat of honor and the lowest place at a great banquet was probably pretty small. This certainly was true of the meals we see in scripture where Jesus is invited into his opponents' homes. Jesusjust barely squeaks onto the guest list, we are led to believe, and that's only because he's so frustrating and yet fascinating to his opponents. So he starts by saying something they would find clever-- but in the next breath addresses the social segregation problem by suggesting that his followers should sit at table with everyone-- especially those considered "outcast."

It's better to be humble than humiliated. Maybe one way to think of the closing observation of Jesus in our gospel portion is this: it is better to "be HUMBLE" than to "BE humbled." It's all about the emphasis. Like so many things in life. If we put our emphasis on things, including status, we often end up feeling empty. If we put our emphasis on relationships, on trying to see things from someone else's perspective and situation, and walk alongside them, we will experience companionship and fulfillment.

Jesus repeatedly tells us that, as followers and emulators of Jesus, we should always seek to serve rather than be served. Indeed, if someone seeks to honor you when you have sought the background, you certainly know that your actions are worthy of honor on their own merit. But more than that: humility is an essential part of the gospel values of love, compassion, and empathy. Our final reading from Hebrews for this year starts with that very reminder: "Let mutual love continue."

We were made for community, Jesus reminds us again and again. Being alongside someone else is the best place to be, after all.

In Christ,

Mother Leslie+