01 September 2013: 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Liturgical
color: Green)
The grace of humility
How can some personalities flaunt their wealth amidst the suffering of so many of our countrymen? The worst is that their wealth is allegedly ill-gotten and the product of corrupting government officials.
Can material wealth buy a ticket to eternal Kingdom? In the Gospel last Sunday, Jesus admonishes us to travel light, meaning without excess baggage, so that we can enter through the narrow gate to God's Kingdom.
In a world so much consumed by materialism, power and greed, Jesus reminds us again to be authentic Christian witnesses for the Lord's Kingdom in our every day life situations.
In today's Gospel narrative from Saint Luke, Jesus accepts an invitation from a leading Pharisee to come and dine at his house. But while there, Jesus observes how the guests scramble for choice seats of honor at the table.
Now we know that Jesus is a great and practical teacher. He was always looking for ways to preach to his followers. Occasionally, he would masterfully craft a story to explain the Good News. At other times, Jesus would take a real life event and use it as a powerful teaching moment. Still on other occasions, Jesus would use a combination of these two modes of preaching. This week's Gospel passage is an example of this last method.
So Jesus seizes the gathering at the house of the Pharisee to teach his followers, not with proper table manner, but the virtue of humility.
Humility begins with God and gently flows into all of our other relationships. Before God, at the Lord's table, there is no place for self-righteousness nor for our human desire for honor and recognition. Because our faith teaches and empowers us to see everyone around us as a beloved child of God, equally deserving of God's blessing and love.
For Christians, humility is the queen or foundation of all other virtues, which enable us to see others more as our brothers and sisters deserving of our love and charity. Jesus tells us that we are his disciples if we love one another.
In practical life, rather than thinking that we are entitled to respect, honor and a life of ease, we see ourselves as blessed, so that we can share with others the bountiful blessings we also receive from the Lord. It is humility that frees us to love and serve others selflessly for their own sake, rather than our own.
More importantly, humility invites us to be honest about our faults, weaknesses and sins. Thus, it keeps us on our knees, praying for God's strength, mercy and assistance. At the same time, humility encourages us to be honest about our gifts and talents as well, and encourages us to discover them, cultivate them, and put them to good use for the greater glory of God, through Christian charity and love.A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.
Ad Jesum per Mariam!
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