Humility and Greatness, John 1:19-28

John the Baptist is questioned in John 1:19-28 about who he is. He denies being the Christ, the Prophet, and even Elijah! But he points the priests and Levites to one who stands among them who is the great one to come. What kind of person is John to have his ministry overshadowed by another and to want it to be so? Father Jeremiah tells us about John’s humility and how it becomes his greatness because of the great one, Jesus.

Image: Interrogation of John the Baptist, Jacob de Weert, Public Domain Dedication (CC0 1.0). No changes made. Image location: https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/YR0194173/Interrogation-of-John-the-Baptist.

A Kind Yoke for a Gentle Humility, Matthew 11:25-30

Jesus tells us that he has an easy and kind yoke and is joyful that those who are children have heard his call. In a paradoxical way these two things go together. Only little children can receive Jesus, and only those who are weary can become children. This is because those are the kind of people who can put their trust in Jesus as they have not blinded themselves with their own selfishness.

Image: A woman in a large straw hat is tending two decorated oxen…, Steel engraving by C. Cousen after E. H. Landseer, licensed under: CC BY 4.0, no changes made. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_woman_in_a_large_straw_hat_is_tending_two_decorated_oxen_w_Wellcome_V0020839.jpg

Humility and Exaltation, Luke 14:1, 7-14

Jesus said that whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted. How does this come to apply in our own lives? Who is doing the humbling and who is doing the exalting? The who of that question is more important that we ever realize.

Image: Humility and Pride from BL Royal 19 C II, f. 52, Public Domain. Image location: https://jenikirbyhistory.getarchive.net/media/humility-and-pride-from-bl-royal-19-c-ii-f-52-e57bc8