XXII Sunday in OT[C]:Sir 3:17-18,20,28-29;Heb12:18-19,22-24a;Lk14:1,7-14

XXII Sunday in OT[C]:Sir 3:17-18,20,28-29;Heb12:18-19,22-24a;Lk14:1,7-14

Introduction:  First reading from the Book of Sirach, sometimes called Ecclesiasticus or Wisdom, places great emphasis on the virtue of humility and shows great sympathy to poor people and the oppressed. The second reading, from Hebrews, gives another reason for us to be humble.  Jesus was humble, so his followers are expected to be humble, trying to imitate his humility.

Exegesis:   Today's Gospel contains two teachings of similar styles.  Both start with when, "When you go to a banquet" and " When you give a banquet." Both have a cautioning phrase, don’t.  "Don't sit at a high place, lest you be put down," and  "Don't put out a spread for the rich to impress them, lest you already receive your reward." And both have the teaching, but, "But when you go to a banquet" and “But when you give a banquet.”  He is teaching us the proper way to view ourselves and others.  He is teaching us about honor, respect, and, particularly, about humility. Jesus explains the practical benefits of humility, connecting it with the common wisdom about dining etiquette. Jesus advises the guests to go to the lowest place instead of seeking places of honor, so that the host may give them the place they really deserve. Jesus’ words concerning the seating of guests at a wedding banquet should prompt us to honor those whom others ignore, because if we are generous and just in our dealings with those in need, we can be confident of the Lord’s blessings.

Role Model: Joseph de Veuster was a Belgian missionary priest working among the islanders of Honolulu. His bishop had trouble finding a priest to work in the leper settlement of Molokai. Joseph, better known as Father Damien, volunteered to go and work in the "living graveyard that was Molokai." His solidarity with the lepers was so complete that he contracted the disease himself and died at the age of forty-nine in service to the poorest and most abandoned. Some of his contemporaries accused him of imprudence and foolhardiness. Today, however, he is recognized worldwide as a hero of the faith: Damien the Leper.

Joke:  When Christian Herter was governor of Massachusetts , he was running hard for a second term in office. One day, after a busy morning chasing votes (without lunch), he arrived at a church barbecue. It was late afternoon and Herter was famished. As Herter moved down the serving line, he held out his plate to the woman serving chicken. She put a piece on his plate and turned to the next person in line.

"'Excuse me,” Governor Herter said, “do you mind if I have another piece of chicken?”

"'Sorry,” the woman told him. “I'm supposed to give one piece of chicken to each person because you are going to get other food items also from other servers.”

"'But I'm starved and I love chicken,” the governor said.

"'Sorry,” the woman said again. “Only one to a customer.”

Governor Herter was a modest and unassuming man, but he decided that this time he would throw a little weight around. "'Do you know who I am?” he said. “I am the governor of this state!”

"'Do you know who I am?” the woman retorted. “I'm the lady in charge of the chicken. Move along, mister.”

Practical Applications: 1) The two dinner instructions remind us that we are not the center of the world.  God is.  Our value does not come from how others view us.  Our success is not due to what others can do for us.  Our value, our success comes from our relationship to our Center, our God.  That is humility.

2) We need to practice humility in personal and social life.  Humility is based on the psychological awareness that everything I have is a gift from God and, therefore, I have no reason to elevate myself above others.

3) We celebrate that coming Banquet Feast in heaven every time we come together for Our Lord's Supper in Holy Mass. We need to remember that we are the invited guests.  We are the (spiritually) poor, crippled, lame, and blind that Christ calls to himself. Our place is assured.

Introduction: XXII Sunday in Ordinary Time

Message: Humility and self-knowledge go hand in hand.  Those who conduct their affairs with humility shall be exalted, while those who exalt themselves shall be humbled.  The humble shall rejoice and exalt before God in the assembly of the heavenly Jerusalem.

Saints and events in this week: September Second-Monday-Labor Day; Third-Tuesday-Saint Gregory the Great, pope, doctor of the Church;