A Japanese tourist was riding around Manila on a taxi. He said: “This is Toyota... Made in Japan. Very good. Very fast.” Seeing a car pass by, he remarked: “Ah, that’s Mitsubishi... Made in Japan. Very fast.”

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Reaching his destination, the Japanese was flabbergasted to see the fare of P1,000. “Why fare so high; onri short distance!” The passenger blurted out. The driver tapped the meter and said, “Taxi meter, made in Japan. Very fast!”

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That funny story might well illustrate Jesus’ teaching in the gospel lesson in this 22nd Sunday: “Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled and he who humbles himself shall be exalted” (Lk 14:11).

The Lord goes further to elaborate, “When you go to a party, do not sit in the first place. Some one more distinguished than you may have been invited...”

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Obviously Jesus’ words are not to be taken literally, otherwise, nobody would sit in the “cabisera” or presidential table. Everybody would be grabbing for the last chair as in the parlor game “Trip to Jerusalem.”

What Jesus meant is a conscious effort to consider oneself always lower to others or to avoid boasting of one’s good fortune and achievements.

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As the book of Sirach puts it in the first reading of the Mass: “The greater you are, the more humble you should behave; then you will find favor with the Lord” (Sir 3:18).

This is illustrated by about how a father taught his son the virtue of humility. He said: “Look at those rice stalks. Note that the ones having rich grains are bowed down while those that have little or empty grains are standing upright.”

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It is not only God who values humility but also Filipinos in general. If one puts himself up, the Filipino tends to put him down, and vice versa. The Filipino has the trait of identifying himself with the “mahina,” the “dejado,” the “underdog.” He hates the arrogant, the domineering, the haughty person. So if you want to be loved, be humble.

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Humility is truth. Let’s not misunderstand the virtue of humility. Being humble doesn’t mean suppression of one’s personal attributes or an abject self-depreciation.

It doesn’t consist a beautiful woman calling herself ugly, or in an intelligent man calling himself stupid, otherwise it’s false humility.

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Remember the thanksgiving canticle of the Virgin Mary, “Magnificat”?

She openly declared, “Henceforth all generations shall call me blessed?”

And Christ, who proclaimed, “Learn of Me for I am meek and humble of heart,” did not hesitate to say, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

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The humble man knows his place and takes it. The humble man – if he is supposed to rule, rules; and when he is supposed to serve, serves.

But even in his most triumphant moments, the humble man remembers that all he is, and all that he has, is from God. He does not mistake the gifts of God for his own sole achievement.

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The great St. Augustine once said: “Do you wish to raise yourself?

Begin by humbling yourself. Are you dreaming of building an edifice that will tower to the skies? Begin by laying the foundation of humility.” So, strive to be humble as the Lord did.

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FAMILY TV MASS – is aired by the SVD Mission Communications Foundation, Inc. (MCFI) on IBC 13 at 9-10 a.m. every Sunday.

Sponsor: Arellano University, School of Law. Celebrant: Fr. Egai de Jesus.

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To offer Mass intentions and love offerings, call Brian at Christ the King Seminary (cf. tel. directory) or e-mail: familytv.mass@yahoo.com.