From our Pastor’s Desk

Dear Family:

This weekend, Jesus teaches us a masterly lesson in humility. The gospel reading today says “Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees.” The people there observed Jesus carefully, perhaps looking to find something to trap him with. Jesus is also observing their behavior and notices “how they were choosing the places of honor.” They were looking for recognition. This attitude of the Pharisees came from “pride”, one of the seven deadly sins. Jesus’ desire was to help them see the error of their ways so that they may become good disciples. And His desire for us continues to be the same.

Jesus tells them a parable set at a wedding banquet, to teach them humility. He tells them not to seek the “place of honor” for it might actually cause them embarrassment if a “more important person” comes and they are asked to move. Here, He uses their pride to motivate them to become more humble. He tells them if they take the lower place, if they are the most important people there, the host will invite them “to a higher position.” Perhaps there might be some false humility here. They might take the lower place with hope of being called up but at least it is a start. Sometimes the changes we need to make to be good disciples have to come in small steps because that is all we can handle.

In the times we are living, the word “humility” has lost its real meaning. So, what is “humility”? Some think being humble means we cannot acknowledge the good we do. They might go so far as to think being humble means thinking they are not good. That is not true. We can be humble and acknowledge the good we do by giving credit where credit is due. Humility is the neglected virtue that is vital for a Christian as radar is for an airplane. It is a virtue of honesty about us, about our souls and about our dire need of God’s grace. Humility is not low self-esteem, it is not stupidity, timidity, nor is it foolishness. Real humility is about truth, truth about who we really are, the talents we have and more importantly, those we do not have: our limitations. It is a realization of our need of God and others, our brothers and/or sisters.

Today’s collect prayer reminds us that God is “the giver of every good gift”. We are able to do good because of the gifts God has given us. Therefore, humility begins there, acknowledging God as the owner of Creation and everything in it. Humility is a virtue that we need to make part of our whole life.

For instance, on Monday we will celebrate Labor Day. It is a day to celebrate the accomplishments that come from the work we do. How do we look at the work we do? Here I want to say that by “work”, I do not simply mean what we do at a paid job. “Work” as I am referring to can include any task we do. Perhaps we volunteer. It can be what one does as a parent to raise their children. Good parenting is not motivated to make the parent look good through their children (this happens but it should not be the motivation). Good parenting is motivated to help their children become good people and good disciples.

Are we prideful about our “work”? Do we put all our energy into being the best, trying to be better than everyone else? That would be “pride.” It is better to be humble. In being humble we do try to do our best not to look good, but for the glory of God. Who would you rather have around? A humble person or a bragger? Think of the words of Sirach in today’s First Reading, “My child, conduct your affairs with humility and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.” Isn’t it easier to work with someone who humbles themselves and will work with you rather than work with someone who will do anything to get ahead without concern for others?

In proper humility we open ourselves to the help of others. We open ourselves to God’s guidance. Here I think of Sirach’s words, “the mind of a sage appreciates proverbs and an attentive ear is the joy of the wise.” If we are truly humble and wise, we want to listen so that we may grow. After all, what is our goal? Are we looking to make a lot of money (that would be greed)? Do we just want to look good (that would be pride)? Or are we trying to live the words of the Lord’s Prayer, “your kingdom come,” working to make God’s kingdom known in this world?

What about our humbleness before God? What is your attitude in approaching God? Do we realize that as we come here into God’s house, that we are coming before the Lord? Yes, God is present everywhere, but isn’t God present here in church in a special way? That is why we genuflect when we come into a Church where the Blessed Sacrament is reposed inside the Tabernacle. It is our acknowledgment of God’s greatness. Do we pray before Mass to hand our concerns over to God so we can focus on giving glory to God? Does our appearance (the way we dress) serve as a recognition of our love for God? Do we come here to get something? For the record, we do get something wonderful, grace! We receive it through God’s Word and through the Eucharist. However, coming here is not just about us getting something. Coming here to celebrate Mass is centered on praising God for what He has already done for us. We humble ourselves to thank God. When we do so, we open ourselves to trusting in God so that we live in his peace for the future. It is in surrendering ourselves to God and living in gratitude for what God has given us that we can find peace and say to God, “for in you we live and move and have our being” as the Preface VI of the Sundays in Ordinary Time reads.

The master and perfect example of humility, Jesus Christ states clearly in Matthew 11:29 that he is gentle and lowly of heart, his disciples (you and I) should learn from him. He, though God, humbled himself to the level of mortal humanity and died a criminal’s death on the tree just to save sinful man (Phil 2:5-11). He came to serve, not to be served and give his life as a ransom for many (Mk 10:45). This He demonstrated when He stooped so low to wash the feet of his apostles to give us an example of humility that we might follow (Jn 13:15). No wonder he tasks us today to humble ourselves to be exalted, (Lk. 14:11). The seriousness of this claim by Jesus is manifested in his repetition of this statement in (Lk 18:14 and Matt 23:12).

Dear family, the life of Christ should be our guide today, it should help those who are great according to human standards to become humbler for no one can ever equal the height attained by Christ, yet no one has ever proven and will ever prove to be humbler than Him. We are to struggle not to be like the scribes and Pharisees who prided themselves over the frivolities of life, their possessions, status and the like; we should rather strive to always follow the way of Christ, the way of humility. St. Paul tells us in his first letter to the Corinthians 1:31 that we should only pride ourselves about God and nothing else. All we have, even our life and time, is borrowed; we are actually having nothing that is not given us gratuitously by God. Humbly, we must ensure that we use our blessings for the good of others, not for those who will pay us tomorrow but for those who truly have need of them.

Humbly, let us be One Body, One Spirit, One Family! Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Katharine Drexel, Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint Michael the Archangel, Pope Saint Pius X, St. Charbel and St. José Gregorio Hernández, pray for us.

Yours in Christ Jesus!
Fr. Omar