"humility helps us to see clearly"

Humble allows for a more objective and accurate understanding of oneself, others, and the world around us.

Humility, isn't about self-deprecation, but rather a recognition of one's limitations and a willingness to learn

from others and acknowledge the perspectives of those different from oneself. 

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Genesis 28:10-22a

Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran.

When he reached a certain place the sun had set and he spent the night there.

He took one of the stones that were there and using it as a pillow, he lay down to sleep.

While Jacob was sleeping, he had a dream in which a ladder stood on the earth with its top reaching to heaven

and on it were angels of God going up and coming down. And the Lord was standing there near him and said,

"I am the Lord, the God of your father, Abraham, and the God of Isaac.

 

The land on which you sleep,I give to you and your descendants. Your descendants will be numerous

like the specks of dust of the earth and you will spread out to the west and the east,

to the north and the south. Through you and your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed.

 

See, I am with you and I will keep you safe wherever you go.

I will bring you back to this land and not leave you until I have done what I promised."

Jacob woke from his dream and said, "Truly the Lord was in this place and I was not aware of it."

He was afraid and said, "How full of awe is this place! It is nothing less than a house of God; it is the Gate to Heaven!"

 

Then Jacob rose early and took the stone he had put under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on the top of it.

He named that place Bethel although before that it was called Luz. Then Jacob made a vow, "

If the Lord will be with me and keep me safe during this journey I am making,

if he gives me bread to eat and clothes to wear, and if I return in peace to my father's house,

then the Lord will be my God. This stone which I have set up as a pillar will be God's house,

and of all that you give me, I will give back a tenth."

 

Ps 91:1-2, 3-4, 14-15ab In you, my God, I place my trust.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Matthew 9:18-26

While Jesus was speaking to them, an official of the synagogue came up to him,

bowed before him and said, "My daughter has just died, but come and place your hands on her,

and she will live." Jesus stood up and followed him with his disciples.

 

Then a woman, who had suffered from a severe bleeding for twelve years,

came up from behind and touched the edge of his cloak; for she thought,

"If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." Jesus turned, saw her and said, "Courage, my daughter, your faith has saved you."

And from that moment, the woman was cured.

 

When Jesus arrived at the official's house and saw the flute players and the excited crowd, he said,

"Get out of here! The girl is not dead. She is only sleeping!" And they laughed at him.

But once the crowd had been turned out, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand,

and she stood up. The news of this spread through the whole area.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"Humility helps us to see clearly."

Genesis has two contrasting stories which relate to a gate leading to heaven.

One is the tower of Babel and the other is Jacob's ladder. The story of the tower of Babel is one of great pride.

The desire to reach the gate of God (bab-el) is the temptation to conquer heaven by our own efforts.

It is man's desire to replace God with himself.

 

By contrast, Jacob sees the house of God and the gate of heaven in a dream

as he lies humbly on the dust of the desert. This vision is given to him by God;

he has not tried to take it by force. And rather than trying to climb up to God,

Jacob senses that God has come down to him and is standing with him.

Pride clouds our vision and disrupts our relationship with God and others.

 

Humility helps us to see clearly. In humility we recognize God's presence and his loving care.

"Truly the Lord was in this place and I was not aware of it." We become aware of his presence

by acknowledging that the world is also God's house (Bethel) for "the earth and its fullness belong to the Lord" (Ps 24:1).