First Reading - Ecclesiasticus 3:19-21,30-31
Second Reading - Hebrews 12:18-19,22-24
Gospel - Luke 14:1,7-14
Just after his election to the Papacy, Pope Francis demonstrated and defined the practice of humility, not by his words but by his actions. After his election to the papacy, Francis turned down the Vatican limousine ride, instead taking the minibus back over to the hotel with his brother Cardinals. At the hotel, he gathered his luggage, thanked each member of the staff, and paid his own bill. He did not pass off these seemingly meaningless tasks to a papal aide. — It was not as if he had nothing to do. Francis, this humble servant of the Lord, remained Francis, humble servant of the Lord, even after being elected head of the Roman Catholic Church. His humility was not so much a series of individual actions or practices as it was a way of life for him, as a Jesuit priest, archbishop, cardinal, and pope.
The common theme of today’s readings is the need for true humility which leads to a generous blessed sharing with the needy.
Today’s first reading presents excerpted portions of two of Ben Sirach’s short essays, the first on humility (3:17-24), the second on docility, almsgiving and social conduct (3:25-4:10). Like a parent or an elder brother offering a wise counsel, the author recommends that his readers find true greatness in living humbly. “Conduct your affairs in humility,” Ben Sirach writes. “The more you humble yourselves, the greater you are.” He instructs us to be honest about ourselves and to become conscious of our limitations, acknowledging our true position before God as creatures and sinners. Humble people do not deny their gifts and talents. They recognize that their gifts and talents come from God and use them accordingly.
In the second reading, Paul asks his readers to choose either the ways of the former Covenant, symbolized by the fire, storm, darkness, trumpet blast, and the Voice, speaking words that they begged not to hear, or the ways of the new Covenant, mediated by Jesus and celebrated by the angels and the assembly of the firstborn. St. Paul compares and contrasts the picture of God in the Old Testament with that found in the New Testament. Instead of the frightening manifestation of God’s glory under the Old Covenant, the New Testament offers the picture of a loving and humble God as revealed by Christ. Christ did not humble himself as a mere slave, but as the Beloved Son of the Father, in whom the Father was well pleased. Thus, his humility flows from his exalted status as Son of the Father. Paul seems to imply that we need to follow Christ’s example of humility in our relationship with those members of our society less fortunate than we. We are gathered around “Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel.” Jesus was lowly, particularly in his suffering and death for our salvation. If we are humble, like Jesus, and with him, we will be exalted with him at the resurrection of the righteous. We are challenged here to imitate Jesus whose “sprinkled blood” saved all his sisters and brothers who choose to be saved. We are all called to give of ourselves for others, to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of those who most need our compassion and care.
The gospel passage presents the scene of the banquet where Jesus was also invited. The reason why Jesus was invited to the Sabbath dinner, given for his friends by a prominent Pharisee, was that he was already a sort of celebrity, noted for curing the sick. People are always drawn toward celebrities. But Jesus was not interested in such fame. Without putting on an air of superiority, he used the occasion to teach a lesson about the Kingdom, presenting humility as the essential condition for God’s invitation to His Heavenly banquet. Humility must be expressed in the recognition of one’s lowliness before God and one’s need for salvation. Based on his observation of a gross breach of social etiquette at that party, Jesus taught those Jewish religious teachers what genuine humility was and what the dangers of pride were. “Go and take the lowest place,” Jesus recommends, “so that when the host comes to you he may say, `My friend, move up to a higher position.'” In other words, we are always to situate ourselves in such a manner that the only way we can go is up.
The teaching of Jesus on humility finds explicit expression when he says: “When you hold a banquet, don’t invite friends or relatives or wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather invite the poor, the cripples, the lame, and the blind, who are unable to repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” St Francis expressed this attitude perfectly when he said: “What I am before God is what I am, and nothing more.“ Thomas Carlyle, the British historian, put it succinctly, “Show me the man you honor, and I will know what kind of man you are.” The Pharisees were preoccupied with “earning” a high place in heaven. Jesus counsels them to practice what they preach about God’s concern for the poor and thereby to gain true merit. In other words, Jesus suggests, “Do something really different! Invite to your parties the people who have little to bring with them. The blessing, recognition and benefit you are worried about will come, though not through the means you expect.” The freedom that comes with knowing we are loved and sustained by God is a freedom to give generously of our resources, to give the best place to others without concern for ourselves. Just as Jesus challenges his fellow guests, so he challenges us. He warns us that those who will be saved will not be people like the Pharisees. The deeper message of this parable is that if we exalt ourselves, we are going to face embarrassment before the judgment seat of God, the Host who has invited us to the banquet of life.
Dear friends, we need to practice humility in personal and social life: Humility is based on the psychological awareness that everything I have is a gift from God and, therefore, I have no reason to elevate myself above others. On the contrary, I must use these God-given gifts to help others. True humility requires us neither to overestimate nor to underestimate our worth. We must admit the truths that we are sinners, that we do not know everything, and that we do not always act properly. Nevertheless, we must also recognize that we are made in the image and likeness of God, and that we are called to help build the kingdom of God with our God-given gifts. We are of value, not because of those gifts, but because we are loved by God as His children, redeemed by the precious blood of His son Jesus. The quality of humility that Jesus is talking about also has a sociological dimension because Jesus is inviting us to associate with the so-called “lower classes” of the society — even the outcasts. Jesus invites us to change our social patterns in such a way that we connect with and serve the homeless, the handicapped, the elderly, and the impoverished — the “street people” of the world — with agápe love.
Mother Teresa’s Humility List can help us grow in this virtue: 1. Speak as little as possible about yourself. 2. Keep busy with your own affairs and not those of others.3. Avoid curiosity.4. Do not interfere in the affairs of others. 5. Accept small irritations with good humor. 6. Do not dwell on the faults of others. 7. Accept censures even if unmerited. 8. Give in to the will of others. 9. Accept insults and injuries. 10. Accept contempt, being forgotten and disregarded. 11. Be courteous and delicate even when provoked by someone. 12. Do not seek to be admired and loved. 13. Do not protect yourself behind your own dignity. 14. Give in, in discussions, even when you are right. 15. Choose always the more difficult task.
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