22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – C – 1 September 2013
Readings: Sir 3,17-18,20,28-29; Ps 68,4-5,6-7,10-11; Heb
12,18-19,22-24a; Mt 11,29ab
Our First Reading this Sunday from the Book of Sirach begins with these
words: “My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved
more than a giver of gifts.” In the Gospel reading, Jesus used the occasion of
a banquet and the way guests were behaving, choosing for themselves places of
honor at the table, to drive home a lesson in humility.
What does it mean to be humble, and how important is this virtue in
Christian life?
1. To be humble means to keep ourselves grounded.
The root of the word comes from the Latin humus, which means soil. What the virtue of humility develops in us is how to keep our feet firmly on the ground, that is how to be secure in our
self-identity and authentic in our self-expressions.
My professor in moral
theology, Fr. James Keenan, SJ, in his book "Virtues for Ordinary Christians", defines
it this way: “Humility acknowledges the truth about oneself; it is not about
lying or denial, but rather about the ability to determine whether what others
say about oneself is true or not. As a matter of virtue, humility is the mean
between two vices. Humility is found between pride, where one thinks oneself
greater than one really is, and self-pity, where one thinks oneself worse.”
When Jesus cautioned his audience about reserving for themselves places
of honor at the banquet table, he was not merely taking about table etiquette. He
was talking about staying grounded, keeping it real, not thinking too highly
about oneself. C.S. Lewis famously stated: “True humility is not thinking less
of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.”
Today, we may think most of us have already come to accept this practical
advice. Some have even mastered the practice. Public figures, especially, would want to show that they are in
solidarity with the masses. Coming from humble origins and rising from the
ranks has become a badge of honor. People reward with approval those who visit and
support orphanages and homes for the aged, those who are respectful and humble
in their use of words, and appreciate those who use self-depreciating humor.
However, we also have to be wary about mistaking mere political
correctness or good PR for true humility. For even now, society has its own “places
of honor”: the discreet yet distinctive power table at parties, VIP rooms, and
exclusive enclaves. These may also manifest even in our choice of conversations
or company that excludes certain people in our workplaces, schools, and
communities.
2. To be humble is the first
step in walking with God.
Micah 6:8 reminds us what the Lord requires of us: to do justice, to
love goodness, and to walk humbly with God. Before we can talk about committing
to righteousness and justice, the first disposition a disciple needs to learn
is humility – which means accepting first the truth of ourselves: our
giftedness and weakness, our strengths and inadequacies.
The great Greek philosopher Socrates would usually initiate his new
students into his teaching style by asking them to define something, and then
keep asking them more probing questions until they finally say they really don’t know at all.
Then he would say, now we can begin learning for “true wisdom is in knowing
that you don’t know.”
In Mt 9,13, Jesus says: “I did not come to call the righteous but
sinners”. Who are the righteous? They are the ones who feel self-satisfied with
their moral and spiritual state, and feel no more need for conversion. Now, who
are the sinners? They are the ones who recognize their faults and failures, and
acknowledge their sinfulness. In the same verse, Jesus also says: “It is mercy I
desire and not sacrifice.” Between the two, who is most receptive to the grace that
Jesus offers? The humble sinner recognizes his need for God’s mercy, while the
self-righteous feels secure in the merits of his own sacrifice.
3. To be humble is to be
exalted.
Jesus teaches us in the Gospel reading today that “every one who exalts
himself will be humbled,
but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” The First Reading also has this to say: “Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.”
but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” The First Reading also has this to say: “Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.”
To understand these statements, it may be helpful to look at an example
of how to fall from God’s favor. But first I have to ask: “What do you think
was the first sin committed in all of creation?” The answer: it is not the sin
of Adam and Eve, rather it is that of their tempter – the sin of pride. Satan,
the deceiver, started as an angel, and one of the more favored ones too. His name,
Lucifer, means “bearer of light”. But he became so full of himself, and too
proud to serve humanity in God’s behalf, that when given a choice he decided to
choose himself over God’s will. And so he has fallen from grace, and has made
it his mission since then to lure humanity into thinking they have no need of God’s grace
as well.
That is why, when Jesus came to save us, He chose the way that is most
opposite to pride: humility. The Letter to the Philippians (2,6-9) sums up profoundly this way of heroic humility: “Though he was in the form of
God, Jesus did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he
emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and
found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even
death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him.”
Why do we need to practice humility? Because as Christians, we follow
the way of Christ, and His way begins with first possessing humility. To love
and serve humbly is to be exalted by God, for by doing so, we reflect
the light of Christ to others, we become witnesses to the kind of life God has
prepared for His people – authentic and free, and meaningfully happy. To be
exalted is to be able to let others see God’s love and joy through us.