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22<\/a>nd<\/a><\/sup> Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C<\/a> September 1, 2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJesus\nwent to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees.<\/em>\u201d The people there observed Jesus carefully,\nperhaps looking to find something to trap him with. Jesus is also observing their behavior and\nnotices \u201chow they were choosing the\nplaces of honor.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n They want the recognition. This is \u201cpride<\/a>\u201d, one of the seven deadly sins<\/a>. Jesus\u2019 desire is to help them see the error of their ways so that they may become good disciples. His desire for us is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, He tells them a parable set at a wedding banquet. He tells them not to seek the \u201cplace of honor<\/em>\u201d for it might actually cause them embarrassment if a \u201cmore important person\u201d comes and they are asked to move. Here, He uses their pride<\/a> to motivate them to become more humble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He tells them if they take the lower\nplace, if they are the most important people there, the host will invite them \u201cto a higher position.<\/em>\u201d Perhaps there might be some false humility\nhere. They might take the lower place\nwith hope of being called up but at least it is a start. Sometimes the changes we need to make to be\ngood disciples have to come in small steps because that is all we can handle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What is \u201chumility\u201d? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some think being humble means we\ncan\u2019t acknowledge the good we do. They\nmight go so far as to think being humble means thinking they are not good. That\u2019s not true. We can be humble and acknowledge the good we\ndo by giving credit where credit is done. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n This begins with acknowledging that\nthe Lord is \u201cthe giver of every good gift\u201d (opening prayer for Mass\ntoday). We are able to do good because\nof the gifts God has given us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus teaches about humility in the\ncontext of places of honor at a wedding banquet. Humility is a virtue that we need to make\npart of our whole life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, on Monday we celebrate\nLabor Day. It is a day to celebrate the\naccomplishments that come from the work we do. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you look at the work you\ndo? Here I want to say that by \u201cwork\u201d, I\ndo not simply mean what we do at a paid job. \n\u201cWork\u201d as I am referring to can include any task we do. Perhaps you volunteer. It can be what one does as a parent to raise\ntheir children. Good parenting is not\nmotivated to make the parent look good through their children (this happens but\nit should not be the motivation). Good\nparenting is motivated to help their children become good people and good\ndisciples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Are you prideful about your \u201cwork\u201d? Do you put all your energy into being the best, trying to be better than everyone else? That would be \u201cpride<\/a>.\u201d It is better to be humble. In being humble we do try to do our best but not to look good. No, we do it for the glory of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who would you rather be around? A humble person or a bragger? Think of the words of Sirach, \u201cMy child, conduct your affairs with humility\nand you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.<\/em>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Isn\u2019t it easier to work with someone\nwho humbles themselves and will work with<\/em><\/strong> you rather than work with\nsomeone who will do anything to get ahead without concern for others?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In proper humility we open ourselves\nto the help of others. We open ourselves\nto God\u2019s guidance. Here I think of Sirach\u2019s\nwords, \u201cthe mind of a sage appreciates\nproverbs and an attentive ear is the joy of the wise<\/em>.\u201d If we are truly humble and wise, we want to\nlisten so that we may grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After all, what is our goal? Are we looking to make a lot of money (that would be greed<\/a>)? Do we just want to look good (that would be pride<\/a>)? Or are we trying to live the words of the Lord\u2019s Prayer, \u201cyour kingdom come,\u201d working to make God\u2019s kingdom known in this world?<\/p>\n\n\n\n What about our humbleness before God?<\/p>\n\n\n\n What is your attitude in approaching\nGod? Do we realize that as we come here\ninto God\u2019s house, that we are coming before the Lord? Yes, God is present everyone but God is\npresent here in church in a special way? \nThat\u2019s why we genuflect when we come in. \nIt\u2019s our acknowledgment of God\u2019s greatness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Do we pray before Mass to hand our\nconcerns over to God so we can focus on giving glory to God? Does our appearance serve as a recognition of\nour love for God? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Do you come here to get\nsomething? For the record, we do get\nsomething wonderful, grace! We receive\nit through God\u2019s Word and through the Eucharist. However, coming here is not just about us\ngetting something. Coming here to\ncelebrate Mass is centered on praising God for what He has already done for\nus. We humble ourselves to thank\nGod. When we do so we open ourselves to\ntrusting in God so that we live in his peace for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is in surrendering ourselves to\nGod and living in gratitude for what God has given us that we can find peace\nand say to God, \u201cfor in you we live and move and have our being\u201d (Preface VI of\nthe Sundays in Ordinary Time).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CSirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29Psalm 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11 (see 11b)Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24aLuke 14:1, 7-14 September 1, 2019 \u201cJesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees.\u201d The people there observed Jesus carefully, perhaps looking to find something to trap him with. Jesus is also observing their …<\/p>\n
Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29
Psalm 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11 (see 11b)
Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a
Luke 14:1, 7-14<\/p>\n\n\n\n