Do not scrutinize so closely whether you are doing much or little, ill or well, so long as what you do is not sinful and that you are heartily seeking to do everything for God. Try as far as you can to do everything well, but when it is done, do not think about it. Try, rather, to think of what is to be done next. Go on simply in the Lord's way, and do not torment yourself. We ought to hate our faults, but with a quiet, calm hatred; not pettishly and anxiously. 
   - St. Francis de Sales

Phil 2:1-4;  Ps 131:1-3;   Lk 14:12-14

R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.

O LORD, my heart is not proud,
nor are my eyes haughty;
I busy not myself with great things,
nor with things too sublime for me.

Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted
my soul like a weaned child.
Like a weaned child on its mother's lap,
so is my soul within me.

O Israel, hope in the LORD,
both now and forever.

Humbly regard others as more important than yourselves. 

Putting others first is not natural. Spend 10 minutes with several little kids if you think otherwise. Regard for oneself - evidenced by the ubiquitous "It's not fair!" - is bred in the bone. But no one needs a prophet or a savior to tell us to do what comes naturally. Regard for others is learned behavior. Empathy and altruism should be drilled like hand washing or the multiplication tables or piano exercises or night prayers. If we hope for a better world for our children, we who are parents or pastors or presidents must model virtue for those who look to us. And we must apologize when we fail. Our family night prayers include a simple act of contrition, led by one of the children. 

I firmly intend, with the help of your Son, to make up for my sins and to love as I should. Amen.

- by Paige Byrne Shortal