Deacon Tom Anthony

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 126

Reading 1 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.
 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.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11

R. (cf. 11b)  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. God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.
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. God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.
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. God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.

Reading 2 Heb 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.

Alleluia Mt 11:29ab

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord,
and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 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 every one 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."

My Brothers and Sisters,

 We learn from The Catholic Church that Pride is one of the Seven Deadly Sins. It serves as a gateway to other sins because at the root of all sin there is some level of pride that enables us to turn away from God in the first place and then indulge in sinful practices. As Christian, we have to be constantly on guard for the emergence of pride and the many ways it can become a cause for concern. Humility is the key to avoiding the trap of pride. Understanding that all that we received from Jesus Christ was undeserved and that it was given to everyone regardless of their background or status means that we are no different than anyone else in the eyes of God. In fact, having an understanding of who we are in relation to Jesus Christ actually reduces our importance because we are taught that the one who needs the  help the most is the one who should be given the most attention and affection. Being believers of the Word means that we are also doers of the Word. We are the workers in the field, the slaves to Christ, and that means that we do not ask for recognition and recognition should never be important to us. When we start to look for material, mental, emotional rewards for the work that we do then we are not actually doing the works of Christ but are engaged in the works of this world which is quickly passing away.

Good works are done in reaction to the presence of the Holy Spirit. They are not done because we have been commanded to do them. If it is the Holy Spirit, the presence of God’s Love, that is making us do the things that we are doing, then any type of reward must only come from God. The rewards from God come in the form of loving and being loved by Him because all actions through Him are a product of and a reaction to His Love in the first place. If we are motivated to receive rewards other than the experience of God’s Love then the reason why we are doing things have their roots in pride and the allures of this world. That means that they are being done for the wrong reasons and will actually be bad for us. Reacting to God’s Love puts God in a position where He can force out all that is bad for us. The goodness of God always triumphs over everything if only we let Him do His work. He can truly make everything better. It is through reacting to His presence that we become healed, do His work, and show others that God is here. We are God’s instruments and it is He who is enabling the works that we do to be accomplished and not us. God working through us should be viewed as a privilege and not an accomplishment.

In the Scripture Reading today from the Book of Sirach we are reminded to always stay humble because that leads to loving and being loved. Those who expect to be rewarded for what they do will not be honored or appreciated for what they do. True intentions are always revealed through one’s own heart and one’s own conduct. The presence of pride always tears down what has been built up; including the person who does the good work in the first place. Humility invits love in while pride forces it out. It is better to love and be loved; doing things out of love instead of for selfishness and self-gain. We as Christians cannot expect honors because of what we do. Honors have their origin in the flesh while love has its origins with God.

When we are humble we then become an example for others to follow. Humility is a trait that  has its origins through Jesus Christ. Where there is the presence of Christ there is a humility that exudes greatness that. Those who are witness to this can see the greatness that shines through someone who has become a slave on the account of Jesus Christ. No human power can counteract the power which this state of being can command. Jesus became the ultimate example of this through the Incarnation and the sufferings He took upon Himself so that we could receive salvation. He gave everything for us. He asked for nothing except our love in return.

We learn from the teachings of Jesus Christ that we should never expect repayment and actually hope that it never comes. If there is repayment for what we do then we must humbly refuse it. It is only when someone is insistent that we take what is being offered under the preconditions that we set for ourselves that what is received will be used to further our good works in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Our reward is that which has already been given us through a relationship with Jesus Christ and that which waits for us in heaven with him. As we deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ we will come to more of an understanding that to be poor, meek, and humble will lead to greatness here on this earth and in eternity with God.  True joy is experienced when acting on the Love of God and true joy is with us when we are walking with God.

Deacon Tom