Reflection for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sirach 3: 17-18, 20, 28-29; Psalm 68; Hebrews 12: 18-19, 22-24a; Luke 14: 1, 7-14

Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,

but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

Jesus took his companions by surprise when he told a thought-provoking parable to a leading Pharisee’s guests at a Sabbath dinner. The guests “were observing Him carefully,” Saint Luke reports, and we can imagine that they were doing so in a not-so-friendly manner. By telling the story in parable form, Jesus showed the guests how they should look into their own hearts carefully, instead of looking critically at Him.

The parable talks about what happens when a guest at a wedding banquet seats himself at table in a place of honor, only to be asked by the host to sit at a lower place to make room for someone “more distinguished.” Jesus opened the eyes of the guests to their own souls, where perhaps a desire for status and an impressive position lay as a hidden and harmful motivation.

There may be times when we have been startled by the sudden awareness that our motivation puts ourselves before others. We may not have seen ourselves that way before. If we are open to learning a lesson from the situation and view it through the lens of a loving God, it can be humbling, but it can also be a very useful teachable moment.

If the Lord allows my imperfections to be noticed by others [as He sometimes does], I really ought to thank Him for revealing the truth, and chuckle that my own glossy self-image has a bit of tarnish. Saint Therese of the Child Jesus would simply acknowledge her fault by looking to the Lord: “See how much I need you.”

In God’s eyes, our motivation for doing anything can increase our merit or our guilt. We know that our true honor and glory lies in putting God first, in loving Him and doing God’s will, and in supplying the needs of our neighbor. How easy it is, on the other hand, especially in a time of enjoyment, to forget why we are on this earth and for what we are preparing – a celebration far better than any earthly banquet.

Later in today’s Gospel, Jesus directs us to raise the bar. When we are hosts and hostesses, we are to open our dining halls to those who cannot repay – the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind. We are all aware of people in need to whom we could minister. Let us not only help them but do it with respect and fraternal love.

We grow in humility by acknowledging our needs and we honor God by our humble trust. He will always help us on this life-long journey. Like the saints, let us confidently say, “Nunc coepi” – Today I begin.

Let us prepare for the heavenly banquet while here on earth.

Have a blessed Sunday with family and friends!

Humble yourselves the more, the greater you are,

and you will find favor with God.