This page was updated 10/19/2006 07:08 AM Click here for Men of Epiphany home page

Here is the study for 6:30 am, Saturday morning, July 29th, 2006 in the Hearth Room at Epiphany.

Being a Man of Humility, Being Like Jesus

Sunday, July 30, 2006
2 Kings 4:42-44
Psalm 145:10-11,15-18
Ephesians 4:1-6
John 6:1-15

Click here for readings  (For quick review only; bring your Bible)

Did you ever think that Jesus could have let the crowd make him their king after he multiplied the loaves and fishes? After all, that’s what they wanted to do. But Jesus chose otherwise. He chose to be humble.

What can we learn from Jesus in regard to humility? In today’s second reading, Paul writes, “Lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1). As inspiring as these words are, we all tend to reduce this invitation to specific points of action: I have to do this good thing and I have to avoid that temptation. But this is all a matter of human striving and doesn’t necessarily lead to humility.

True humility means trying to avoid building ourselves up in the eyes of others. It means trying not to negatively judge other people or bring them down in hopes of elevating ourselves. Yet even striving to be humble can lead us to prop ourselves up: “Look how humble she is!” How ironic that what we hope for we do not do and what we hope to avoid, we do!

So personal striving, as valuable as it is, has its limitations. How can we ever learn from Jesus how to be meek and humble of heart? The answer may be found in the way we yield ourselves to God and let his grace form our minds. When we allow ourselves to be fed and strengthened by Jesus, grace multiplies—just as the loaves multiplied when Jesus lifted them up to his Father. Yielding to the Lord will give us God’s power to do what we naturally cannot do. This is why Jesus sought communion with his Father every day, and it is why he urged us to abide in him as well.

Today, tell Jesus that you want his grace to help you view yourself a bit more lowly and view others a bit more highly. Tell him that without grace it is impossible to be humble. Ask him—over and over again—and watch as he transforms your heart.

“Lord, give me the grace to be just as humble as you were the day you fed the five thousand.”

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1.   In the first reading the prophet Elisha feeds a hundred people in a story that prefigures Christ's miracle of the multiplication of loaves. In what ways does the Lord feed you and provide you with daily sustenance?

2.   In the responsorial Psalm we read again that God feeds his “faithful ones” and satisfies all of their desires. What are the desires in your life that bring you closer to God? What are the desires in your life that keep you from God?

3.   The Responsorial Psalm goes on to say, “The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.” How important do you think it is to call upon the Lord in a daily time of personal prayer and Scripture reading? If you don’t have a daily time of personal prayer and Scripture reading, are you willing to commit 15 minutes a day to it? If not, what are your reasons?

4.   In today's short reading from the letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul reminds us how we are to live together in humility and unity as Christians. In particular he uses the words "one" or "unity" nine times. What are some of the characteristics of this call to unity? If St. Paul were a member of your men’s group today, what would you be able to tell him about your attempts to live in unity with one another and your family, friends, and neighbors? What additional steps can you take to change the things in your life that are keeping you from a "bond of peace" with your fellow Catholics? Other Christians?

5.   The Gospel relates the story of the multiplication of the loaves, which itself prefigures the Eucharist. The bread in this story sustains earthly life, while the Eucharist sustains us for eternity and is the full manifestation of Christ's boundless love for us. It is a meal we share together in humility as Catholics, a sign and cause of unity. What steps can you take to deepen your experience of Christ, and his love for you, when you receive the Eucharist?

6.   The Second Vatican Council called the Eucharist "the source and summit of the Christian life". The Greek word "Eucharist" itself means "thanksgiving". How thankful are you for this great gift of Christ? Christians?

7.   In the meditation, we are urged to “learn from Jesus in regard to humility.” How would you define the Christian/Biblical definition of humility? How do you rate yourself against this definition? What steps can you take to grow in humility?

Come Holy Spirit!  ~  Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and en kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your spirit and they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. Let us pray: O God, you taught the hearts of your faithful by sending them the light of your Holy Spirit. In that same spirit give us your right judgment and the joy of your consolation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

Prayer to St. Joseph  ~  Glorious St. Joseph, guide and protector of the Holy Family, we ask that you obtain for us from your son, Jesus, the strength and wisdom to lead our families to their Father in heaven. Most Chaste spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may we imitate your obedience to the will of God and be ever mindful of the vocation to which we have been called. Amen