The virtue of humility is very much misunderstood from a Catholic standpoint. Humility is not about self-hatred or self-deprecation. It is about recognizing one's true worth in God's eyes and accepting oneself as He created us to be. Humility involves a deep understanding of one's own strengths, weaknesses, and limitations. It means acknowledging both the good and the bad within oneself, without exaggeration or denial. Humility acknowledges that all good things come from God and recognizes our dependence on Him. It means acknowledging that one's talents, abilities, and even one's very existence are gifts from God. This was one thing that the Pharisees in the Gospel today lacked. They exalted themselves denying God’s authority thus falling into the sin of pride. Self-praise on their part is no praise at all. Jesus isn’t just teaching us about table etiquette. The lesson itself transcends the topic. What He wants to teach us is that being humble before God and acknowledging everything about ourselves as finite and our dependence on Him is key to being exalted in Heaven.