Give up seats, races

Jesus had the answer. In this week's Gospel (Luke 14:1,7-14), He talks about being humble -- not taking the best of everything now, so God will be proud of you and give you the best later!

At a fancy dinner, Jesus watched people taking the best seats. "If you sit in the best seat," He told them, "the person giving the dinner might see another friend and tell you, `Give your seat to this person.' Then you'll have to take the worst seat. So take the worst seat right away; then, when your friend sees you, he'll say, `Here, take a better seat!' Those who take the best will be humbled, but people who are humble will be given great things."

Some people Jesus met were like you. They went to parties where they knew they could get good seats, because their friends were throwing the party. They wanted to sit in the best seats they could, so they could have that good feeling you get when you win!

If you outrun your little brother every time you race, you might feel good at first -- but then he'll cry because he's little and wants to win sometimes, too, and you don't feel so proud!

Jesus' advice was about that. He said not to take the best seats -- not to win every time, even when you know you can -- because someone bigger or more important than you might come along and make you lose. Even the best seats or the most important race in the world, Jesus said, aren't worth hurting another person!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, teach me to help other people shine, too! Amen.