Commentary
Sunday, September 1, 2019, Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
God Likes Humility
First Reading Commentary: Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29
We all know people who love to be the center of attention and enjoy being recognized for the things that they have done for others and expect to be looked up to for their own personal achievements. Everything that they do is designed to impress others for the sake of their own glory. But today, Sirach tells us that when we are humble, we will be greatly loved and find favor with God.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to make a good impression on someone whom we need or want to do something for us like a perspective employer. There is nothing wrong with wanting others to think well of us. But when we allow our ego to get out of control, we find ourselves falling into the deadly sin of pride.
Have you ever met someone who talks a good talk but knows nothing about what they are talking about? They have big ideas but when it comes time to implement those ideas and the plan fails, they blame everyone else.
Sirach tells us not to try to accomplish things which are not possible to achieve. That does not mean that we should not dream and it does not mean that we should not pursue our dreams. As the saying goes, “What the mind can conceive, the man can achieve.”
We should use the gifts that God has given to us because we are not good stewards of those gifts if we do not use them. This is one reason why we should pursue our dreams and that means that sometimes, we have to take a risk. But that does not mean that we should be foolish and that is what Sirach is telling us today. Use your gifts and talents, follow your dreams but do not waste your time with the impossible for the sake of trying to impress others.
I consider one of my greatest lessons learned in life to be: no matter how much I know; there is always something else to learn. Sirach tells us that when he says, “The mind of a sage appreciates proverbs, and an attentive ear is the joy of the wise.” Don’t be quick to listen to the one who comes across like they know everything and always has something to say because chances are that they do not know. But the one who listens; does know and what he does not know, he will learn because he listens.
Finally, Sirach says, “Water quenches a flaming fire, and alms atone for sins.” This is a prophecy to obey the Second Greatest Commandment. We atone for our sins when we help those who are in need and when our generosity comes from the heart—not for our own glory but for the glory of God. In other words, we love each other from the heart with humility.
Fear, Yes, Be Afraid, No
Second Reading Commentary Hebrews: 12:8-19, 22-24a
The book of Hebrews tells us that we are not like the children of Israel who were afraid to hear God’s Word out of the fear of what God might do to them if they disobeyed Him. Instead, we have been blessed to hear the Word of Christ who promises the reward of heaven to those who follow Him and His Father.
Think about it. Is the Word of God a message of doom and gloom? Of course, it is not and that is why we should not be afraid to hear and listen to what God has to tell us. We should honor and obey God out of our respect and love for Him, but we should not be afraid of God.
A child should have these feelings for their parents and we are God’s children and that is God’s way. But with God, we have to do more. We have to give God praise and glory because He is our creator, our parent’s creator, and everyone else’s creator. God is the provider of everything that is and God, the Son is our Savior.
True fear of the Lord is being in complete awe of His Almighty power. It is not being afraid of Him. We should however, be scared beyond imagination of hell which is extreme chaos and pain—the exact opposite of heaven but like heaven, hell is eternal.
But think about it. If we are doing everything right and living our lives according to God’s Word, hell should not be on our minds because it is not in our future—heaven is.
We Are the Invited Guests to God’s Party
Gospel Commentary Luke: 14:1, 7-14
Jesus went to dine at the home of a Pharisee on a Sabbath. With the refusal on the part of the Pharisees to accept Jesus for who He was, it is interesting that Jesus would dine with them. But this demonstrates two things. First, Jesus never refused anyone and was always willing to talk to everyone even if they did have ulterior motives, which takes us to number two.
Jesus knew that He would be scrutinized and was prepared to use the incident to teach another lesson. The lesson was on humility and it was directed at both the guests who were choosing the places of honor at the table and the host. But this lesson in humility is for us as well.
Jesus told the guests that when invited to a wedding banquet, one should not assume a place of honor because a more distinguished guest may have been invited. Then the host may ask you to give your place to the other guest and you will be embarrassed. Instead, take the lowest place so that the host may come and tell you to take a higher position and you can enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.
Although Jesus was giving a lesson on humility, that was not the only thing that He is talking about. This was another analogy to our invitation to the wedding feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.
None of us should expect that because we are invited to the Kingdom; that ours’ will be a place of honor. Our being worthy of even being invited to the Kingdom is only because God’s grace, which comes to us because He loves us enough to want us in His Kingdom in spite of our brokenness. God alone will decide what our place will be because He is the host.
Then, Jesus said, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Does anybody know just how many times Jesus said this in one way or another? I lost track but I know that He said it enough times for us to know how important it is to Him and that He means it!
Jesus told the host that when he holds a lunch or dinner, “…do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.” Jesus was saying that if we have an affair and invite people of influence to show off, they may reciprocate on the invitation and we will have received our fame. In other words, if we do for others for the sake of receiving recognition, when we get it, we will have received our reward and there will be none in heaven. This was the first part of Jesus’ lesson to the host.
Jesus said, “Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” The second part of the lesson being: that when we do for others without expecting anything in return, we are rewarded in heaven.
We are the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. What’s more, we are totally unworthy to be invited to God’s banquet in heaven and we surely have no way to repay God for His invitation. But, invited, we are. So, what Jesus had to say to the Pharisee and his guests was much more than a parable—it was His way!
Don’t ignore the last four words of this gospel; “resurrection of the righteous.” There will be a last day and, on that day, the vision of the banquet of John in Revelation will come to pass.
Today’s readings tell us very clearly that if we want to receive our reward in heaven by being invited to the banquet, we have to do more than practice our faith, we have to practice our faith with humility.
