A couple of weeks ago I preached at our Joint parish service held over the Bank Holiday weekend. The Bible passage was the parable of the wedding banquet from Luke 14.7-14. I spoke of the danger of pride, the guest who has to be asked to move down, and of false humility. I came across this great quote by Philip Brooks just the other day which speaks of a right understanding of humility.
"The true way to be humble is not to stoop until you are smaller than yourself, but to stand at your full height before some higher nature that will show you how small your greatness is. Stand at your very highest, and then look at Christ; then go away and be forever humble."
This is what is meant by the invitation in the parable "friend, move up higher". Not that we are seeking reward now for our false humility but that we take our rightful place, stand at our very highest and look at Christ, recognising our own unworthiness.
