“WALK DAILY WITH JESUS”, 31/10/26 (Saturday, 30th Week in Ordinary Time of Year A. Also, Optional Memorial of BVM). CLIMAX OF “MARIAN” MONTH OF ROSARY (OCTOBER).

WE ARE IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, THE MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY. PLEASE, PRAY THE HOLY ROSARY AND ASK THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY TO PRESENT YOUR INTENTIONS TO HER SON FOR REDRESS.

COLLECT: “ALMIGHTY EVER-LIVING GOD, INCREASE OUR FAITH, HOPE AND CHARITY, AND MAKE US LOVE WHAT YOU COMMAND, SO THAT WE MAY MERIT WHAT YOU PROMISED. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.

Phil 1:18b-26; Ps 41:2-5 and Lk 14:1,7-11.

There is this story about an Archbishop of an Archdiocese. One time there was a conference of Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops. When it was time for self-introductions, everyone mentioned their doctorate, degrees, high titles, and all that. When it was the turn of this Archbishop, even though he was a professor, he introduced himself as a ‘Shepherd’ of a flock. This shocked everyone in the conference hall.

This is the lesson and message Scripture has for us today. Humility is a great virtue, and once one cultivates it, no one can ever take it away from one, and one will also be greatly rewarded and blessed. Pride, the opposite of humility, is a terrible vice, which has great negative repercussions. Think about this seriously. Very often when I have to talk about pride and arrogance, I use the analogy of sorghum in the field. When it is getting ready for harvest, the heads that have seeds and are useful for the farmer have their heads bow down, while those without seeds, the useless ones, have their heads raised, and when you are at any corner of the farm, you easily see the heads of the useless ones, but the heads of the useful ones are not seen. You can apply this to proud/arrogant and humble people in the world.

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus advises his listeners- we are included- not to rush for the best places at the feast. We should be humble even if we think we have all the posts and degrees in the world. What we should know is that at the end of this earthly life, such things like posts, degrees, and what have you, do not count or matter. They are not recognised in heaven. What counts much in heaven will be how I humbly use my talents, position, post, degree, and what have you to serve God and humanity. In fact, humility is often linked to service. St. Paul is an example for us (Cf. Phil 1:18ff). Humble people are always ready to serve and not to be served. Remember Jesus’ statement that ‘I came to serve and not to be served, and to give my life as ransom for many’ (Cf. Mt 20:28).

In our contemporary times, most people are just eager to raise their social status, whether by being with the right people, dressing for success, or driving the right car, trying to impress whom? Unfortunately, there are times when some people do not even have the right post or degree, or they do not get near there, yet they pose or place themselves there. This is a disgrace and a gross demonstration of pride and arrogance. Rather than trying to impress people in order to court their attention and look prestigious, we should look for places and avenues where we could serve God and humanity. The guiding principle is that if God wants us to serve on a wider scale, where we would be famous, popular and well known, he would invite us to take higher places. We should not wrongly look for them. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, who served the Lord and sinful humanity with humility, continue to intercede for us. May the Lord teach us humility as he himself lived it in the world. AS WE END THE ROSARY MONTH TODAY, I URGE EVERYONE TO CONTINUE TO PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY, ASKING FOR THE INTERCESSION OF MOTHER MARY FOR OUR INDIVIDUAL INTENTIONS AS WELL AS THE INTENTIONS OF THE WORLD. Stay blessed and happy Saturday.

WE MEDITATE TODAY, SATURDAY, ON THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE ANNUNCIATION, THE VISITATION, THE BIRTH OF JESUS, THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE AND THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE’. (LET US PRAY FOR HUMILITY, LOVE OF NEIGHBOUR, POVERTY IN SPIRIT, OBEDIENCE AND JOY IN FINDING JESUS) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and the hour of our death, Amen”.

PRAYER: “MAY YOUR SACRAMENTS, O LORD, WE PRAY, PERFECT IN US WHAT LIES WITHIN THEM, THAT WHAT WE NOW CELEBRATE IN SIGNS WE MAY ONE DAY POSSESS IN TRUTH. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.

Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com.