Pastor's Letter 20220828- 28 August 2022 - Humility

[Father Michael]

August 28^th, 2022

22^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

A Message from Father †Michael

Today’s Theme:  “Humility”

Reflections on Today’s Scripture

Our First Reading (Sirach 3:17-29,) tells of Joshua Ben Eleazar, Ben Sira, a faithful Jew of the second century B.C.  Steeped in the traditional values of his people, possibly a scribal lawyer, Sirach, as he has become known, was born in to prosperity.  Able to gain practical wisdom and travel, he was often a guest at foreign courts, as emissary of Israel.  He writes keen insights on Torah, Wisdom and successful living.  In today’s selection, he addresses “humility and pride.”  He praises the value of a modest, gentle life, free of pretension and ambition.  Like faith, humility is to be pursued as an active virtue of positive trust, and was assigned to the Messiah—the “ideal” person.  Contrarily, the “proud” would come to suffer for their “airs.”  

~~~

In our Second Reading (Hebrews 12:18-24,) †Paul speaks to those Jews, who had come to accept Jesus as their Messiah, in an effort to allay their crisis of identity.  Subject to sometimes hostile elements from Judaism, they were forced to redefine their faith continually, although it was rooted in, but also distinct, from its Jewish matrix.  Ca. 80 A.D., they were ousted from synagogues, and also became subject to Roman persecution, as Christians.  Those enrolled in the Gospel covenant in Jesus’ name, shared in the glory of Zion, rather than as it was with the Old Covenant, which was lived out on earth.  To turn away from Christ would have been seen as a “step back” from the promise of the “heavenly city’s festal gathering” of the redeemed.   

~~~

In Biblical times, food and drink was not only used as nourishment, but as a way of fostering significant social communication.  Reserved seating in places of greatest honor, at the right and left of the host, bore evidence of the station of those invited to dine.  In our Gospel, today (Luke 14:1-14,) speaking to the gathered guests at a banquet, Jesus’ parable called to mind the etiquette of not seeking the “highest” places, lest one be slighted when asked to make room for someone of more exalted station.  Like Sirach, He recommended “humility” to His companions.  Those clinging to fleeting and dubious dignity of self-assertion must recognize the greatness of God, in contrast to their own lowliness and need.  Christ further shocked the Pharisees in suggesting that guests not only include those who could reciprocate their invitations, but also people with little or no social standing.  His challenge to them recognized the reversal of human values integral to the Good News, the Kingdom, and His mission; and the elevation of the homeless, the downtrodden and the outcast.  Acting on His advice, they would be living the truth of the Gospel as evidenced by their humility.  

Being Watched

We can look at other people with “friendly eyes,” “hostile eyes,” or, “indifferent eyes.”

When we look with “friendly eyes,” it means, from the outset, that we are well-disposed towards them.  What a difference that makes!  We are looking out for the good in them, and are ready to excuse anything less.  We are open and ready to learn from them.  To feel the weight of friendly eyes is a beautiful feeling—one that puts us at ease, and makes us feel welcome.

Conversely, looking at people with “hostile eyes,” we have an ill opinion of them from the outset.  Looking for faults, oftentimes, we are disappointed if we don’t find them!  Not finding fault with what they say or do, we often cast doubt on their motives.  We don’t offer them an opportunity to prove themselves, as our minds and our hearts are closed to them.  To feel the weight of hostile eyes on us is quite uncomfortable.

If we look at others with “indifferent eyes,” suggests we have no particular opinion about them—one way or another.  We might observe their efforts; their sadness; even, their tears…but they mean nothing.  We have no interest, and thereby, no concern for such people.  Actually, we hardly “see them” at all!  It’s almost as if they didn’t exist….

Many people are inquisitive about others’ faults, but negligent about their own.  Nothing so blinds us to our own faults as a preoccupation with the faults of others.  

Jesus felt the weight of others’ eyes upon Him throughout His public ministry on earth.  Jesus observed the Pharisees, out of different motives, of course, and He saw things He didn’t like.  He saw people scrambling for places of honor in the Synagogues, in public gatherings, and as we heard in today’s Gospel, at dinners.  Such behavior is evidence that they were not present to honor their host, but themselves.  

Jesus also had a “word” for hosts:  giving a meal might seem like a very generous thing, until we consider who the guestlist included.  The Pharisees invited their “cronies,” who would also invite them into their homes.  Is this really a generous act?  Such “giving” is, in fact, an “investment!”  If they would truly wanted to be generous, they would’ve invited people who would never be able to reciprocate.  True giving occurs when nothing is expected in return….

There are obvious lessons for us in all of this:  With what kind of “eyes” do we observe others?  And, what is the quality of our “good deeds?”  Religious people can sometimes be woefully “selfish.”  Just as weeds can ruin a garden, so selfishness ruins a person’s Christian witness.  Giving is at the heart of the Gospel, but it must have a certain quality—it must be “disinterested” giving.  

Places of Honor

Entering a great cathedral, a grand structure or an impressive monument—man-made or natural—we might feel an immediate humbling by the grandeur that surrounds us.  Such an experience can make us reflect on our own inadequacies, vis-à-vis our own abilities and talents, in the face of such masterpieces of construction and art.

We may feel small, and insignificant in such situations, realizing how flimsy and false are the things on which we depend.  But in a strange way, we are also exalted, because when we humble ourselves, and let go of those things that give us a false sense of importance and superiority, separating us from others, it can actually raise us up.  We can begin to realize our true greatness, which lies, not in ourselves, but in the fact that we are children of God. 

Before God, all of us are equal—privilege, status or rank have no meaning before our Creator.  It’s not as if we are all reduced to some “common denominator,” but rather, we are like people on a mountaintop, where, to speak of first and last places, or higher and lower places, would be silly.  

When we enter the house of God, we discover that every place is one of honor.  Entering in, everyone is made “equal,” and external privilege blows away like smoke.  We become humbled—yet also exalted.  This is the spirit that should accompany us out into life, afterwards.  The moral becomes: It’s not the place that honors the guest, but the guest that honors the place!  The banquet parable is a symbol of God’s Kingdom, into which we have all been invited—wherein every place is one of honor…. 

May God Richly Bless You!

I Love You, Lord.docx

To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here:  https://youtu.be/m2nsCZSdOxg

 

Edited August 28, 2022 by Father Michael