As I read today’s passage, one word stands out to me: humility. It is a rare artifact in today’s society, especially when we live in an age of boastfulness, power struggles and the need to be the “alpha” among your peers. In fact, sometimes we may even define our life by the need for acceptance and to become the best in whatever it is we are pursuing. Yet Jesus went in the opposite direction from the rest of us. Instead of looking to be the best, he simply looked for those who belonged to the untouchables, the scums of society, the scavengers and the “nobodies.” He willingly shares meals with them, heals them, and shares God’s love with them.

Let today’s opportunities be a reminder that true power does not come from boasting rights, our accomplishments and our egos. It comes from humility, the willingness to love, and the knowledge that we were each made with specific plans, with individual wonders and talents, and with God’s abundant love. Humility creates passion, relationships and helps us to connect with the truly humble man who once walked on this planet.