HOMILIES

Dear Audience,
For better understanding of the spiritual message behind this homily I kindly remind you to first read and contemplate the biblical texts before reading or listening to my preaching - a human reflection on the Word of God!

Twenty Second Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year C)

Aug 31, 2025

486

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First Reading

A reading from the Book of Sirach (3:17-18, 20, 28-29)

My child, conduct your affairs with humility and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts. Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God. What is too sublime for you, seek not, into things beyond your strength search not. The mind of a sage appreciates proverbs, and an attentive ear is the joy of the wise. Water quenches a flaming fire, and alms atone for sins.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms of David (68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11)

(R) God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.

The just rejoice and exult before God; they are glad and rejoice. Sing to God, chant praise to his name; whose name is the Lord. (R)

The father of orphans and the defender of widows is God in his holy dwelling. God gives a home to the forsaken; he leads forth prisoners to prosperity. (R)

A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your inheritance; you restored the land when it languished; your flock settled in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the needy. (R)

Second Reading

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Hebrews (12:18-19, 22-24a)

Brothers and sisters: You have not approached that which could be touched and a blazing fire and gloomy darkness and storm and a trumpet blast and a voice speaking words such that those who heard begged that no message be further addressed to them. No, you have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering, and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect, and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Gospel

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (14:1, 7-14)

On a Sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully.

He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, "Give your place to this man," and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, "My friend, move up to a higher position." Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." Then he said to the host who invited him, "When you hold a lunch or a 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. 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."

(P) The Gospel of the Lord.
(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

One night, a man heard a knock on his door while he was sleeping. When he opened it, he saw a stranger, a young man standing there. The man asked him what he wanted. The stranger replied, "Sir, I need a place to stay tonight. Can you help me out? I am a child of God." The man exclaimed, "Oh! You are a child of God! Well then. For an eminent guest such as yourself, I must offer only the most beautiful and quietest place to spend the night." The man stepped outside and closed the door and then told the stranger to follow him. The stranger, curious, followed the man. When they arrived at a nearby church, the man said to the stranger, "Here you are. You said that you are a child of God. There is no better place that I could offer you to spend the night than here at your own father's house." Jesus says, "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

One of the biblical words we are familiar with is "Sabbath." "Sabbath" comes from a Hebrew word Shabbat meaning to "rest, "cease," or to "stop". It refers to the weekly Jewish day of ritual and spiritual observance. It is the only ritual observance mentioned in the Ten Commandments, which instructs people to "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy", Exodus (20:8-11). This command requires Jewish people to set aside the seventh day of the week for rest and worship, dedicating it to God, in remembrance of His rest after creation.

However, over the centuries, Sabbath has become much more than a day of physical rest, communal worship and communion with God. The day has become a special time to be with friends and family, sharing a meal, staying at home and enjoying a sacred time together. Speaking of Sabbath's significance in Jewish life, it is said that without the Sabbath, the Jews would have vanished; and as much as they have kept the Sabbath, so has the Sabbath kept them. That is to say, the Sabbath observance has helped the Jewish people preserve their identity and culture, strengthen their community bonds and relationships, and endure persecution and hardships.

The importance and nature of the Sabbath differed significantly during Jesus' time compared to its modern-day observance. After weekly synagogue service in Jesus' day, Jewish families would typically return to their homes to share a meal, followed by study of the scriptures, and rest. The Gospels describe Jesus being invited on many occasions to dine with people, including on the Sabbath. While some hosts had genuine reasons for their invitation to Jesus, others did have ulterior motives. They wanted to catch him saying or doing something they could use to accuse him of breaking Jewish law and custom, especially the Sabbath.

For instance, the Gospel of Luke (7:36-50) narrates a story where a Pharisee named Simon invites Jesus to a meal, not out of genuine hospitality but to test and challenge Jesus and his authority by closely observing Jesus' reaction to a sinful woman who wet His feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair, kissed them and anointed them with the fragrant oil, Luke (7:36-50).

While people observed Jesus closely to find fault in his words and actions to discredit Him, Jesus responded to their behaviour by using meals to interact with the people and to teach important lessons. That was the case on the occasion when a prominent Pharisee had invited Jesus to a meal described in today's gospel Luke, Luke (14:1, 7-14). The verses omitted from today's gospel, Luke (14:2-6), describe Jesus encountering a man with swollen legs at the start of the meal while others were watching Jesus to see if He would heal this man on the Sabbath. Jesus then asked the Pharisees and others if it was lawful to heal the man on the Sabbath, and when they remained silent, He healed the man and sent him away. It implies the man was not a dinner guest, but had been planted there to see if Jesus would break the Sabbath law by healing the man. But they were unaware that Jesus too was observing closely how the invited guests were scrambling for the best seats, Luke (14:7).

In Jesus' day, as today, gold, silver, purple garments, fine linen and foods were widely recognized as symbols of luxury, wealth, honour, royalty, and status, as indicated by biblical stories like the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Luke (16:19). These items helped people enhance and protect their high standing in society. Being invited into a certain home by a certain person was also highly significant, reflecting social status, reputation, religious or political connection. Moreover, proximity to the host at meals was an indicator of higher social status. Guests would strategically choose seats closer to the host for attention and respect.

So, when Jesus noticed how some guests sought the highest places, he taught them a lesson on humility with a parable of a banquet guest who is put to shame as a result of trying to exalt himself, and another guest who takes the lowest seat and is then invited by the host to move to a higher position, receiving praise and honour. Jesus advised the guests to choose a lower seat rather than a prominent one, not for the sake of humility alone, but to receive honour when the host invites them to a higher seat, so avoiding public embarrassment and shame. Thus, Jesus taught that "those who exalt themselves will be humbled, but those who humble themselves will be exalted", Luke (14:11).

Then Jesus taught them a lesson on hospitality, and the true nature of God's kingdom. Jesus exhorted the hosts against inviting those who could repay them, such as their own families, friends, and wealthy neighbours, because the act of kindness would then become a business transaction with no eternal value. Instead, Jesus encouraged them to invite those who are disadvantaged and unable to repay the favour. He told them that they would be blessed for their generosity because their reward comes from God, not from human reciprocation. He emphasized that the ultimate reward for this selfless act of giving will lead to blessings "at the resurrection of the righteous." In essence, Jesus taught that true generosity, especially to those who cannot afford to repay, is a spiritual investment that will yield a greater, divine reward.

What is the message for us?

Humility is one of the most fundamental and central virtues of Christian life. It is deeply rooted in the Bible and yet it seems to be the most elusive virtue, for it goes so strongly against our very nature, such as pride, self-interest, and a desire for superiority. Saint John Henry Newman, the 19th century theologian, philosopher and poet, says, "Humility is one of the most difficult of virtues both to attain and to ascertain. It lies close upon the heart itself, and its tests are exceedingly delicate and subtle. Its counterfeits abound." This means that the moment we think we are humble, then we have lost that virtue. Another prominent 20th century writer, scholar, and Anglican lay theologian, C. S. Lewis, describes humility not as thinking meanly of ourselves but rather thinking of ourselves less by focusing less on our own needs and desires and more on others.

Today's Gospel teaches us that we should not overestimate our own importance and put ourselves to public shame and embarrassment. Instead, we must humble ourselves before God and others in order to obtain the grace of God and the reward of eternal life. As Christians, we must continue to pursue humility which involves recognizing our dependence on God, giving him all credit for blessings, and following the example of Christ, who "emptied himself" and took a servant's form", and others like Mary, Jesus' mother who demonstrated humility through her willing submission to God's will, asking only for understanding of how His plan would be fulfilled. Following the examples of our Lord Jesus and His and our mother, Mary, let us strive to enter God's kingdom by choosing the lowliest places and serving others rather than seeking to elevate ourselves.
Jesus does not prohibit us from honouring and entertaining those who are distinguished, wealthy, our close friends and family, but He warns us against entertaining only them exclusively and habitually which creates a cycle of repayment. Instead, He encourages us to extend hospitality to those who are not part of our immediate circle, including the ordinary, poor, and marginalized who cannot repay favours. One of the most practical and meaningful ways to show hospitality beyond our comfort zone is to share our joyous moments, such as birthdays, marriage anniversaries and other celebrations, by helping and providing food to the poor and hungry who otherwise might not get an invitation to participate in a celebration.
As Christians, we should not forget that the true motives for acts of humility and hospitality are to honour God, to reflect His character, and to serve others selflessly, with the expectation of our reward from the Heavenly Father in the future, rather than an immediate, earthly reward of human approval, praise or reciprocity. Let us act with humility, value others above ourselves, and show love and respect through hospitality, trusting that God honours such actions in His own time and way.

(P) Amen.

God Bless You!

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