For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted (Luke 14:11).

Everyone loves an underdog. Something is uplifting about rooting for someone with the odds stacked against them. There is a contagious kind of joy, an unleashing of hope. Perhaps, when we see a fellow human overcoming difficulties, we realize that whatever allowed them to do that might also exist in us. It is a moment when we palpably identify faith, hope, and love.

When we follow Jesus, we are following him first to the Cross. We are to seek him in the poor, in the broken, not with an attitude of being their savior, but as a disciple, a student in the school of love.

He contemplates this substantial love of the Father, the Word incarnate, Jesus Christ becoming man to the point of sacrificing his glory, and even sacrificing his life, loving him to the point of folly, making himself poor to become the friend and brother of the poor; weak to be the friend of the weak; artisan to work with artisans; exiled in order to console the exile; a prisoner to be able to be the consoler of prisoners; persecuted to console the innocent; betrayed, rejected, flogged, detested, crucified, and condemned on the cross for his love of men. This is the God of love. (Saint Peter Julian Eymard, RA 17,2)

In a world where things are not level, it is good to be on the side lifting the lowly rather than lowering the proud. This lifting is meant to be done from a place of accompaniment. We come down and share at the same table. We share the sorrows below, holding on to the promise to share the everlasting joy in the banquet above.

Let us pray:

Lord, make us a channel of your peace; help us bring everywhere your love. Amen.