The words at the end of today’s Gospel are familiar ones, a familiar theme. “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." The parable is part of a story about what people should do when they go to, say, a wedding celebration. If you sit at a lower place, you may be moved to a more exalted one. The warning is a good one for all of us.

However, I did find myself in a bit of quandary. Why did I feel such a surge of self-satisfaction when I read those last two lines of the Gospel? I thought about it and realized that I was feeling smug. So much, I thought, for those who think they are above everyone else. They will get theirs someday. There may have been a har-rumph. Serves them right, I thought. Just like those people who push in front of me in line. Or try to cut me off when I am driving. Or think they deserve better than me because of the way I am dressed.

I came to a stop. What was I doing? Wasn’t this exactly what Jesus warned against? I was being all self-righteous and confident that I was the humble one and I would be exalted. And those I didn’t think should be exalted would get their just rewards. Not very humble of me. Or Gospel-like. What about the neighbor I’m supposed to love as I love myself?

All of this thinking is a good reminder to make sure that I am really listening to the Gospel message. My humility should be real and genuine. Where I am in God’s own seating plan depends on how I treat people and how I follow the Gospel.  That place isn’t because I am good compared to others. It’s that I am good because I want to follow the Gospel. I work toward and pray for that every day.