Jesus' parable about how the guests might strategize to jockey themselves into more prestigious seats is nothing short of comedy. Rather than speak directly about humility, Jesus creates a slightly outrageous story/parable to make his point. Humility is having accurate knowledge of ourselves and accepting ourselves. In the parable, Jesus looks at motives. humility is elusive, it is a slippery fish. in claiming that we have it, we lose it to pride. He challenges his host, the guests, and us to become humble.

In Today's Gospel, Jesus answers a seeker who asks, '' Will only a few be saved'' with '' Strive to enter through the narrow gate...'' Here, the seeker is on the outside and Jesus is on the inside, but in both stories about entrance to life with our God, some effort is required of us who want to be on the same side of the door as Jesus. Whether it is by turning the doorknob and opening it or by walking through the gate, something is required of us.

Jesus said, ''i have come to set the earth on fire and how I wish it were already blazing.'' Jeremiah, the author of the first reading, wrote, '' within me there is something like burning fire shut up in my bones,'' What is it that is burning within? The fire of enthusiasm. enthusiasm sounds almost too weak a word. Athletes can surely appreciate the ''fire in the gut'' feeling. Being ''fired up'' means maximal effort, the absolute best effort within you. There is fire-filled football on the two-yard line - on both sides of the ball that is never exceeded.

The Gospel is from St. Luke 12:32-48. In a few vivid and expressive similes, our Lord tells the disciples and through them, all the followers, how they should conduct their lives on earth so that they would always be found in God's friendship when their call to judgement comes. In answer to a question put to him by Peter, our Lord says that more will be expected of those who have received greater gifts from God than of those who received lesser gifts.

In today's Gospel we see that when it comes to possessions even the best of people often end up losing their heads and become blind and deaf. they see only their interest and are willing to override even the most sacred sentiments. At times, with the help of a wise friend, the parties are able to agree, at other times instead the hatred lasts for years and the brothers stop talking to each other. Jesus was chosen as a mediator to solve one of these family contrasts. The situation presented to him has arisen because one has attempted to commit an injustice and the other is in danger of suffering it.