Whoever Exalts Himself Shall Be Humbled

On the day of the Sabbath,  Jesus entered the home of one of the principal Pharisees in order to have his meal, and those who were there were watching him. Then, observing how the guests were choosing the best places, he proposed to them this parable, saying, “Whenever you are invited to a wedding feast, do not take the best seat, for fear that among  the guests there might  be a person who is more distinguished than you, and so that the one who has invited you will not have to say to you, ‘Give your seat to this one,’ and you will not be reduced to taking the lowest seat in shame. But whenever you are invited, go and sit in the lowest seat, so that when the one who has invited  you comes he will say to you,

‘My friend, move up higher.’ And then this will be a reason for honor before those who are at the table with you, for whoever exalts himself shall be humbled and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. (Lk. 14:1, 7-11)

6. These maxims are the consequence of the principle of humility, which Jesus incessantly presents as the essential condition for the happiness promised to the Lord’s elect, and which he expressed with these words, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” He takes a child as a model of simplicity of heart and says, “The greatest in the kingdom of heaven will be the one who humbles himself and becomes small like a child”; that is, the one who has no pretension of superiority or infallibility.

The same fundamental thought is found in this other maxim, “Let the one who wants to become the greatest be your servant,” and this, “Whoever humbles himself will be exalted and whoever exalts himself will be humbled.”

Spiritism has come to  sanction the theory by example, showing us that those who are great in the spirit world are those who were small while on earth, and frequently, quite small are those who were the greatest and most powerful while on earth. This is because, upon dying, the former brought with them that which makes them truly great in heaven, and which they will never lose: their virtues; whereas the latter had to leave behind that which made them great on earth, and which could not be brought with them: wealth, titles, glory and birth. Not having anything else, they arrive in the other world bereft of everything, like shipwreck survivors who have lost it all, even their clothes. They retain only their pride, which makes their new position all the more humiliating because they see above them and resplendent in glory those whom they used to belittle on earth.

Spiritism shows us another application of this principle in successive incarnations, where those who were the most exalted in one existence are humbled to the least position in a following existence if they had been dominated by pride and ambition. Therefore, do not seek the highest place while on earth or set yourselves above others if you do not want to be obligated to go to a lower place. On the contrary, seek the humblest and most modest position, because God will know to give you a higher place in heaven if you deserve it.