First Reading

Reading from the letter of the Apostle Saint Paul to the Philippians

Philippians 1, 18-26

Brothers and sisters: The fact that Christ is being preached gives me joy and will continue to give me joy, because I know that this will be for my good, thanks to your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. For I have the firm hope that I will not be put to shame and, now as always, I am fully confident that, whether by my life or by my death, Christ will be glorified in me.

For to me, to live is Christ; and to die is gain. But if continuing to live in this world allows me to work still with fruit, I would not know what to choose. Both things press upon me: on the one hand, the desire to die and be with Christ, which, certainly, is by far the best; and on the other, the desire to remain in life, because this is necessary for your good.

Convinced of this, I know that I will stay and continue to help all of you so that you may progress joyfully in the faith. Thus you will have in me, when I am again among you, a reason for great joy in Christ Jesus.

Gospel

Reading from the holy gospel according to Saint Luke

Luke 14, 1. 7-11

One Sabbath, Jesus went to eat at the house of one of the leaders of the Pharisees, and they were watching him closely. Observing how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them this parable:

“When you are invited to a wedding banquet, do not sit in the place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you may have been invited, and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would have to move with embarrassment to the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’

Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”