THEME: HUMILITY
READINGS: Sirach 3:7-18,20,28-29 /Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24 /Luke 14:1,7-14
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
- INTRODUCTION
In the homily of last Sunday, it was mentioned that humility is required to enter the “narrow door” of God’s Kingdom. Today’s readings offer us the opportunity to reflect further on the virtue of humility. According to the first reading, “the greater you are, the more you should behave humbly, and then you will find favour with the Lord” (Sir. 3:18). Similarly, at the end of the parable in today’s gospel, Jesus said: “for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the man who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11).
- VIRTUE OF HUMILITY
Humility, for the Christian, means that attitude which considers all of one’s worth and wealth (including his/her achievements) as coming ultimately from God. This is because, one’s origin, life, health, strength, talents, intelligence, and consequently his/her wealth and achievements are all from God. Humility also means acknowledging one’s limitations: that one is human, and unlike God, he/she cannot do everything on his/her own!
- PRIDE IS THE OPPOSITE OF HUMILITY
The proud person boasts of his/her status, talents, wealth and achievements. He/she usually sees him/herself as more important than others. To an extreme extent, the proud person acts as if he/she has no limitations. He/she thinks he/she can do everything. He/she equates him/herself to God. That was the sin of our first parents: Adam and Eve. They wanted to “be like God” (Gen. 3:5). So, sadly, when tempted by the Evil One, they fell.
Now, “pride goes before one’s downfall” (Prov. 18:12 ), and certainly pride preceded the first and great fall of Adam and Eve. Pride, therefore, was at the root of the dismissal of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden (cf. Gen 3:23-24).
- HUMILITY OPENS THE GATES OF PARADISE
Fortunately, when pride had closed the gates of Paradise for mankind, humility became the key with which the gates were opened. Thus, it was by humility that the Son of God had to leave His glory and become man to save us (cf. Phil. 2:6-11).
Consequently, it is by the same virtue of humility that God would accept believers into Paradise. Thus, according to the Book of Psalms, God “will save the humble person” (Psalm 18:27). The Book of Isaiah puts it this way: God “will dwell in the High and Holy place with him [or her] who has a contrite and humble spirit” (Isa. 57:15). Therefore, to approach “Mount Zion and the City of the Living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb. 12:22) we must be humble.
- OTHER BLESSINGS FOR THE HUMBLE
Besides the ultimate blessing of entry into Paradise, God blesses the humble in several ways. Among these blessings, let us highlight the following:
- Prov. 18:12b: “before honour is humility”.
- Psalm 10:17: “Lord, you have heard the desire of the humble”.
- Sir. 35:21: “the prayer of the humble pierces the clouds and he will not be consoled until it reaches the Lord”.
Let us reflect further on above verse from the Book of Sirach. Whereas planes and space-shuttles may pierce the clouds, they can in no way reach heaven. On the other hand, the prayer of the humble, according to Sirach, reaches the heavenly throne of grace. Humility is to prayer what fuel is to planes and space-shuttles. Moreover, the power of the fuel of planes and space-crafts is nowhere near the power of the spiritual fuel of humility. The powerful spiritual fuel of humility pushes our prayers beyond the clouds and the higher physical space to God’s very throne of grace! The spiritual power or energy of humility is, therefore, simple amazing!
- CONCLUSION
Let me conclude with these words of St. Peter: “All of you, be humble in your dealings with each other because God opposes the proud but gives His grace to the humble. Bow down, then, before the power of God so that He will raise you up at the appointed time” (1 Peter 5:5-6). Amen.
By Most Rev. John Kobina Louis
