Homily for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
HEAVEN IS FOR THE HUMBLE.
“He who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Dear brethren in Christ, today’s homily for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C centers on avery important virtue, HUMILITY, the foundation of all the other virtues.
- Pride, autosufficiency, the desire to be the center of all and above everyone else, the zeal for power and control, are worldly goals which impede one’s entry to the Kingdom of God. Pride is the origin of all evils and an obstacle to love God and others (See https://catholicsstrivingforholiness.org/pride-the-enemy-of-love-of-god-and-love-of-neighbour/).
- Humility, on the contrary, leads one to be discreet, and the humble person gains the favor not only of the people around him, but above all, of God Himself, as taught to us in today’s 1st reading (Sir 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”
- We must give all glory to God in all that we do, making God the center of our life, and his Glory, the motive of our actions, all done for love.
- What happens to the person who solely seeks people’s attention, appreciation and praise?
A catechist gave a talk to girls on the importance of virtues and asked them:
– “Let’s see, who among you is the most modest of all?”
A confident girl from the group replied:
-“I am, with all due respect, teacher.”
Catechist: “And who among you is the most humble?
The same girl immediately replied without even being called yet:
-“I again, ma’am.”
Catechist: And who is the most charitable? (All the other girls were listening amid a deafening silence).
And, as usual, the same girl replied:
-“I am, as well!”
Catechist: “And the most obedient?…And the most pious?”
The same girl answered:
-“Listen, Ma’am, I’m all these and even much more.”
The catechist who was already getting irritated asked:
– “Let’s see, who among here is the dumbest of all?”
All the girls replied in unison:
-“That girl ma’am, that girl!”, pointing towards the same girl who considers herself the best among all.
Cfr. M. Gonzalez, Partiendo el pan a los pequeñuelos
Dear friends, Do we seek God’s glory or our own? With God’s grace, let us avoid the arrogant and proud girl’s attitude in the above anecdote. Our Lord reminds us in today’s Gospel from seeking “the places of honor”, from “standing out” among the crowd, yearning for praise and attention. He gave the important advice: “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 every one who exalts himself will be humbled,
but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Let us not forget: without humility, there can be no love, no other virtue, and hence, no holiness nor salvation! Why? Because God resists the pride and gives His grace to the humble…and pride leads us to be self-centered, enclosed, egoistic and indifferent to others: a few consequences among many other vices which originate from it.
- On the other hand, God opens the gates to the city of New Jerusalem, that is, heaven (see 2nd reading, Heb 12:18-19. 22-24) to those who are humble of heart.
- Hence, let us ask God often for this virtue. We can often pray the Litany of Humility attributed to Cardinal Merry del Val:
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus.
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 …
That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I …
That, in the opinion of the world,
others may increase and I may decrease …
That others may be chosen and I set aside …
That others may be praised and I unnoticed …
That others may be preferred to me in everything…
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…
Lord, through Our Lady’s intercession, help us seek your glory and not ours in our daily activities. May You be the center of all, and not our self. Help us grow in the virtue of humility by frequently forgetting our self in order to serve others with rectitude of intention, while remaining “hidden” in the second plane, all for Thy Honor and Glory.
Mary, most humble, pray for us!
Fr. Rolly Arjonillo.
MUST READ:
KNOW THYSELF. WHY IS HUMILITY IMPORTANT? HUMILITY, THE BASIS OF ALL VIRTUES, THE DWELLING PLACE OF LOVE in https://catholicsstrivingforholiness.org/on-humility-know-thyself-why-is-it-so-important-humility-the-basis-of-all-virtues-the-dwelling-place-of-love/
HUMILITY: Its Effects, the Means to Grow in this Virtue and the Signs of Lack of Humility in https://catholicsstrivingforholiness.org/humility-its-effects-the-means-to-grow-in-this-virtue-and-the-signs-of-lack-of-humility/
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