In today`s sermon I would like to say a few words about humility and the importance of being humble in our life. In Sirach 3:17-18 we read wise words saying:

My son, perform your tasks in meekness;
    then you will be loved by those whom God accepts.
The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself;
    so you will find favor in the sight of the Lord.

This is the lesson that I have learnt in my life and that I experience in some way. Last month I moved to Germany (Frankfurt). And I started working a very difficult job at the factory. This was a big life lesson for me to learn how to be humble and modest in terms of being able to do anything regardless of our qualification. My friends know how hard I was studying to be the best student for 5 years. Gaining my bachelor degree, specialist degree and at last master degree. I was hoping to get a good job based on my qualifications. I am 35 years old now and in my home country, Serbia, the life is very hard and youngsters usually finish universities and cannot find a job afterwards. This is why I had to move in another country seeking for a better life and a job. Unfortunately my language level of German is momentarily very basic and I cannot find a job which is for my qualification but the job for people without any qualification. Such as cleaning or production at the factory.

You can guess, this is very difficult for a highly educated person who was usually working in the office and with a laptop and a pen in his hands. But for us, who are Christians, we know that in God`s eyes all people are the same. He does not see people through their qualifications but through the perspective of what kind of person they are. He does not look at the diploma that we have, but he rather looks straight to our hearts. This is why I would like to share how being modest and humble is very important for all of us. Jesus is the example of the greatest humbleness. And we should always follow his example. But there is always hope that if we are humble in our life we could expect to be at the better place in the future. And this is what I also believe. Today we also read Luke 14. And there is a place which is in relation with humbleness that I would like to share with you also. Verses 7 to 14:

⁷ When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: ⁸ “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. ⁹ If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. ¹⁰ But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. ¹¹ For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” ¹² Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. ¹³ But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, ¹⁴ and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

How we could know that we are on the right place? Simply by reading and obeying carefully what is written in the Bible. Normally, we all want to be at the better place and to be in better position. Today I gave my own personal example through my job position. But we can apply this to everything else. A relationship with our partner, friends, family members, colleagues. Sometimes being humble is not easy. But if we are humble we are Christ-like. Because Jesus was humble. And this is what he teaches us. I pray that these words from Luke and from Sirach will be useful to all of you reading this sermon and I would like you to think for a moment about some situation from your own life when you were humble and later you saw how good was it and worthy. God bless you and let us all be humble like Jesus. Amen.