FEASTING ON THE WORD
"If you meditate on the Scriptures it will appear to you in its brilliant splendor." ―St. Pio of Pietrelcina
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time ( C )Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 | Psalm 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11 | Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a | Luke 14:1, 7-14 As they say, “it is hard to be humble when you are so great.” One of the biggest challenges we face in modern culture is a lack of humility. We are impressed by things like brawn, beauty, bling and bucks. This weekend’s readings speak to us about the importance of humility. On one occasion, Dominicans commented on the poor condition of children admitted to the orphanage ran by the Franciscans. It was reported to the Franciscans however, that the Dominicans had criticized the orphanage itself. The Franciscans blasted the Dominicans the next week from the pulpit and that gesture became the talk of the town. People flocked to the Dominican church the next Sunday to hear their rebuttal. “I understand the Franciscans are not preaching today, and this is the Sunday they use to take an offering for the orphanage. I suggest we take a love offering here instead.” The congregation was delighted. The collectors had to empty the collection bags three times. Later that week there was a knock at the Dominicans' friary. They were the Franciscans! “You know dear brothers, you have practiced grace on us. You have given us not what we deserved, you have given us what we needed.” Today's first reading gives us the wisdom of Ben Sirach, a second-century Jerusalem sage. It echoes traditional Jewish teachings concerning the right conduct in giving of alms. He advises us to be humble in our relationships with others. Bestowing gifts on others is empty and meaningless unless they are given in humility, that is, given in a way which respects the receiver and does not make the receiver feel belittled. The more gifted and important a person is, the more one must be humble and act modesty. Back in the 90s while senate president Marcelo Briones Fernan was presiding in session, one senator angrily told another to go "straight to hell". The offended senator complained to Fernan as presiding officer, and Celing Fernan looked up from the book he had been leafing through while listening to the debate. "I've been looking through the rule book," he said. "you don't have to go!" Our passage from the Letter to the Hebrews describes how the relationship between God and those who seek to have a relationship with him, has moved to a new and more intimate and attainable closeness, in and through Jesus. God was revealed to the Hebrews of old in awesome and terrifying signs — blazing fire, gloomy darkness, storminess, and loud sounds. The same God is revealed at present by other signs — festive gatherings, assembly of peoples, and renewed spirits of people. We do not have to live in fear of imitating the failures of certain figures in the history of salvation, for we have the advantage of the person of Jesus, who sealed the new covenant in his own blood. The change in focus is based on a new understanding that Christ Jesus has brought — not one of terror, but one of awe. Not one of punishment, but one of mercy and joy. Ludovico Ang, billionaire tycoon, was visiting a church and was asked to give his testimony. He said, “I have a fine family, twenty large mansions, a successful business empire of ten companies and a good reputation. I have plenty of money so I can support some ministries and outreach program very generously. Various universities and organizations want me on their board of directors. I have good health and almost unlimited opportunities. What more could I ask from God?” As he paused for effect, a voice shouted from the back of the auditorium, “How about asking Him for a good dose of humility?” In this week’s Gospel passage, Luke presents a scene with Jesus in the home of a Pharisee. Jesus addresses the guests in the house with a parable that warns against self-exaltation. He cautions us against thinking too highly of ourselves. He gives the example of being invited to a wedding banquet, choosing a seat of honor, only to be asked to move. Though it is about table manners and where one should sit upon entering the place for dining, At formal banquets, it is the host who determines where we sit. Of course the banquet we are invited to is God’s kingdom. In the Kingdom, God has a place for us, but it is God who assigns each his place. Many miss this point and like to assign themselves places and honors in God’s kingdom. The invited to life are to remember they are in fact invited and have no entitled rites other than to eat what is placed before them and sit where they find themselves. The Inviter to the feast of life will bless those who have eaten well and thankfully for the whole meal. This blessing is the Host’s saying, “My friend, move up to a higher position.” As God looks around the banquet hall of his kingdom, who draws his eye? Is it those at the “head table”? No. Those who catch God’s eye are not even at the table. It is the servants who catch God’s eye. Those who are those serving. those back in the kitchen cooking and washing dishes! It is not so easy to serve others all the time. Service can be very draining, emotionally, and physically. Thus, what energizes the servant of the meal is to recognize who is in attendance. The most honored guest is the Lord God. A couple of years ago, I heard about the Litany of Humility attributed to Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val (1865-1930). I was hesitant to pray it. It hits right at the heart of so many of my insecurities that keep me tethered to pride, vanity, and often envy. While the road to humility is long — about the length human life for most of us — let us ask God today for the grace of humility using this litany to point us in the right direction: O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me. From the desire of being esteemed, From the desire of being loved, From the desire of being extolled, From the desire of being honored, From the desire of being praised, From the desire of being preferred to others, From the desire of being consulted, From the desire of being approved, From the fear of being humiliated, From the fear of being despised, From the fear of suffering rebukes, From the fear of being calumniated, From the fear of being forgotten, From the fear of being ridiculed, From the fear of being wronged, From the fear of being suspected, Deliver me, O Jesus. Amen. <enrique,ofs>
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About JeffJeff Jacinto, PhD, DHum Archives
March 2024
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