‘‘For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’’ (Luke 14:14)

Jesus notices the self-promoting behaviour of the banquet guests and responds with a parable. His intent is not so much to give practical advice about wedding etiquette, but rather to illustrate the beauty of a deeper humility. The person who is not brash, who does not seek to elevate themselves, but instead takes the lower place, will be held in honour and esteem by those around them. However, there’s a catch: if such behaviour is merely a pretence—something calculated to win favour—then it becomes just another form of self-promotion. That is why Jesus clarifies and shows us what true humility looks like.

Humility is often expressed in a negative form: ‘Don’t notice me—I am nothing.’  Yet true humility is not found in denying our worth, but in using our gifts for the genuine service of others. Such humility does good simply because it is good. It serves without desiring anything in return, for it knows this profound truth: love is its own reward.

Jesus’ own life is the ultimate example of such humility. He never says, ‘I am nothing’ on the contrary, he knows he is the beloved Son of the Father. And yet he came ‘not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’ (Mark 10:45).