Saturday 31 August 2013

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time: HUMILITY

Reading 1  

My child, conduct your affairs with humility,

and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.

Humble yourself the more, the greater you are,
and you will find favor with God.
What is too sublime for you, seek not,
into things beyond your strength search not.
The mind of a sage appreciates proverbs,
and an attentive ear is the joy of the wise.
Water quenches a flaming fire,
and alms atone for sins.
Responsorial Psalm

R. (cf. 11b) God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.

The just rejoice and exult before God;

they are glad and rejoice.
Sing to God, chant praise to his name;
whose name is the LORD.

R. God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.
The father of orphans and the defender of widows
is God in his holy dwelling.
God gives a home to the forsaken;
he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.

R. God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.
A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your inheritance;
you restored the land when it languished;
your flock settled in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the needy.
R. God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.

Brothers and sisters:

You have not approached that which could be touched

and a blazing fire and gloomy darkness
and storm and a trumpet blast
and a voice speaking words such that those who heard
begged that no message be further addressed to them.
No, you have approached Mount Zion
and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,
and countless angels in festal gathering,
and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven,
and God the judge of all,
and the spirits of the just made perfect,
and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant,
and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel.
Gospel

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine

at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,

and the people there were observing him carefully.
He told a parable to those who had been invited,
noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.
“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet,
do not recline at table in the place of honor. 
A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,
and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say,
‘Give your place to this man,’
and then you would proceed with embarrassment
to take the lowest place. 
Rather, when you are invited,
go and take the lowest place
so that when the host comes to you he may say,
‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’
Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. 
For every one who exalts himself will be humbled,
but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” 
Then he said to the host who invited him,
“When you hold a lunch or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers
or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,
in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.
For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Theme for reflection:  Humility

Humility is the key and strongest theme in the readings of today.

Who is a humble man?

A term that is so very difficult to define, even by the dictionaries of the world.

Shall we  then say that he is the one who is aware of his real worth, even if the whole world were to applaud him or eulogize him?

That definition of mine I believe is true and yet disputable and the key dispute is this: How do we know our real self worth, will we not be deceptively believing what we should not believe?

Yet it cannot make the definition wrong.  Humans may come to a certain level of understanding their self-worth if they are true to themselves but never the complete awareness if they are on their own.

Our self worth can be, to a large extent, be understood in the light of the mirror of grace which God provides in his Son Jesus and in his presence.

If anyone has achieved something in life and has a reason to pride then they have only to look at Jesus and his achievements, especially reflecting on the cross in totality; there was nothing impossible with him and yet what was needed of him he did. 

Hence the cross of Jesus is the greatest medicine for human pride and to grow in the ultimate humility, even a child like humility which makes one dependent on God, just as Jesus did, even unto the cross.

If the greatest ever virtue is humility, then all of mankind, if only they sought this one virtue in and through the cross of Jesus then the world would have been a different place to live in.

This virtue doesn't take away from your talent, the gifts that God has given each one but what it does is this; allow each one to use his gifts in true humility of heart and mind.

This humility takes further root in us when we in this reflection on the cross makes one realize one’s sinfulness and unworthiness before a God who is all powerful, almighty and holy and we are mere creatures whom he loves and accepts in spite of our sinfulness- sinfulness that crucified the innocent and sinless one. 

In the gospel instruction on humility which Jesus gives, we could have humble people according to the ways of the world, because Jesus has instructed us thus in the parable on how to conduct ourselves:

Thus we have humble practitioners in the church who may take the last seat in the church and feel justified about it in the light of the parable.

We could have self-effacing individuals who may not play any roles of significant value in the church.

We could have people who may not want to use their talents and gifts to further his kingdom or be a witness or proclaim his gospel.

But when they have to go for the spiritual banquet, i.e. into God’s presence in prayer, they may be in the forefront, with their mind distracted and busy planning the many moves rather than allowing God to invite them closer to his heart and reveal plans for them. . 

It is only our humility before the all powerful God that will keep us humble even among his creatures.

Therefore let the preacher strongly exhort, after making attempts to practice it themselves; “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you.”  1 Peter 5:6 (Jas. 4:10)

"For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 14:11

  •  Some additional scripture verses for reflection and use:
"Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, 'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Ex 10:3
    
If you return to the Almighty and humble yourself, if you remove unrighteousness far from your tents….. then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God. You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you; and you will pay your vows. You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.  For God abases the proud, but he saves the lowly. Job 22:23, 26-29


1 comment:

  1. beautiful reflections, Father. Thank you and God bless you! John Breslin

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