TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2025)
Readings:
Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29
Psalms 68:4-7, 10-11
Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24
Luke 14:1, 7-14
The first reading from the Book of Sirach, part of the Old Testament’s Wisdom literature, describes a parent giving sage advice to his child: “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 profoundly simple, but exceptionally great advice. Would that all parents had this conversation with their children, for we seem to live in an era where braggadocio is viewed positively, even when there is little resemblance to the truth of a situation. Our contemporary (political) world culture relishes power, narcissism, self-aggrandizement, self-centeredness, and individual achievement at the expense of others and others’ resources. Humility is an antidote to much that ails us as a society.
The virtue of humility has often been under-appreciated for it was viewed as denigrating the individual gifts that an individual has been blessed with. It goes without saying, that some people are particularly gifted, but their talent should be no threat to our sense of self-worth. Indeed, humility keeps us honest, recognizing our strengths as well as our weaknesses. Humility helps us to appreciate the gifts and talents of others who can complement and contribute to our own resourcefulness. Sr. Carol Dempsey (who often writes commentaries for NCR) states that “humility is a virtue that fosters individual and communal health. It enhances well-being, reduces defensiveness and encourages conversation, collaboration and empathy.”
For us Christians there can be no greater example of humility than that of Jesus Christ. St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Philippians that Jesus “humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” Jesus’ entire life was a lesson in humility, and so it should be no surprise that in today’s Gospel from Luke Jesus speaks about humility in the context of hospitality. I do not think the setting of the teaching is an accident: “On a Sabbath, Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees.” Accepting this invitation was no small thing, for as we are aware the Pharisees and Jesus were often at odds with one another. Indeed, Jesus frequently cites the showy ostentation of the Pharisees as something to be avoided, and very much the opposite of the humility Jesus recommended. The parable is spoken because Jesus witnessed the invited guests “choosing the places of honor at the table (wonder how He would feel about people switching place cards because they don’t want to sit next to a certain person?). Jesus is quite clear about not choosing the places of honor, lest you be asked to move for someone more important (how humiliating). Choosing the least important seat allows for the honor of moving up closer to the host, and avoids the possible humiliation of being asked to move lower. For as Jesus states: “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
With a great deal of pride, the Pharisees exalted themselves, convinced as they were that they would hold important places in God’s kingdom. But Jesus was eager to teach them the relationship between humility and exaltation. Christians are called to live with an eternal perspective in mind – not with a desire for notoriety. Followers of Christ are not to exalt themselves by presumptuously seeking positions of greatness; rather they are to assume lower positions of service and allow God to exalt them. Humility is the true path to glory.
[I have to confess a bit of pride in the last part of the gospel: “when you hold a banquet… invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.” For many years I was fortunate to have the space to have occasional banquets on the holidays. Those banquets were largely aimed at those who did not travel north and risked being alone for the holidays. They were marvelous affairs, with all sorts of people meeting all sorts of other people, everyone, if possible, chipping into the meal in some way. They could number 30-40 people, and having access to tables and chairs meant space could be set up everywhere there was space. Recently a picture popped up on my iPad screen of my former pastor, my mother, my aunt and uncle standing behind the counter. I am the only one still alive in that picture, but it nourished my spirit just knowing that I had the energy, the help, and the space, to welcome people of all backgrounds to the rectory, which was the parish’s home.]
Humility is needed now more than ever. It’s needed in our discourse, our politics, our homes – it’s needed everywhere where our hubris gets in the way of right thinking, and it distorts our view of the world, and, more importantly, it clouds an accurate assessment of ourselves. It is the prophet Micah who said: “You have been told, O mortal, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.”
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