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 22nd Sunday, Year C: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Humility: The Pathway to Divine Favours

Readings: Sirach 3:17-20,28-29; Heb. 12:18-19,22-24a; Lk 14:1,7-14

Dear friends in Christ, in the gospel of last week Sunday, Jesus cautioned his fellow Jews, as well as all of us, that one of the factors that could exclude them from the kingdom of God on the final day is their neglect to heed God’s call to genuinely live like Abraham’s descendants. In this Sunday’s gospel, He presented another reason that would deny them God’s grace and access to heaven as well. He stated that it is their lack of humility caused by the sin of pride.

The importance of humility and the admonitions against its vice – pride – were addressed in the three readings of this Sunday.

In the first reading, the author of the book of Sirach tells us about the importance of performing every action with humility and perceiving every high position as a call to be humble. He stated that the advantage of this approach is that we will gain favour with God. This implies that one of the simplest ways to lose God's favour is by performing good deeds with pride, perhaps with the intention of receiving accolades from others. We must recall that Jesus cautioned in Matthew 6:2 that anyone who gives alms to gain recognition from people has already received their reward and, consequently, will obtain nothing from God.

Another straightforward way to fall out of God's favour, as seen in this reading, is by viewing our elevated positions and wealth as a chance to look down upon others. Humility is founded on the psychological understanding that everything one possesses is a gift from God. Therefore, no individual should raise himself above others due to wealth or status. Instead, these should be utilized in humble service to others.

Pride leads individuals to misuse the gifts bestowed upon us by God, preventing such gifts from being utilized as God intended. God has given us various talents and abilities so that we may employ them in service to Him and to others. However, pride causes those who possess these gifts to desire that others plead with them before they will offer their talents for the benefit of the community. When God's gifts are used in this way, it becomes a glorification of one's own ego rather than a genuine service to others. Furthermore, pride sets people against God, as it compels people to claim the glory and praise that rightfully belong to God, neglecting the truth that all glory and praise are due to Him.

This first reading went on to emphasize that God reveals His mysteries solely to the humble, while the proud remain afflicted without healing. Indeed, the affliction of the proud lacks healing because pride leads individuals to perceive themselves as superior to all others, disregarding the counsel and suggestions of those around them. By viewing their perspectives as more valid than those of others, the proud often find it challenging to embrace the wisdom, mystery, and guidance of God, which always come when we listen to another voice other than ours. Consequently, when the proud err, they persist in their errors.

The second reading continues to explore the theme of humility, reminding us that we have all been redeemed by Christ and granted the grace to stand before God, where each individual is regarded as a firstborn child, a first-class citizen. One of the detrimental effects of pride is that it compels individuals to regard others as second-class citizens, treating them with disdain. If we are all equal in the presence of God, it follows that anyone who treats others as inferior has violated God's law and may face severe judgement from Him.

In today’s gospel, Jesus encourages us to practice humility in both our personal and social lives. We ought to practice humility in our personal lives by consistently sharing our meals and time with the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, the ignored, and the dishonoured members of society, rather than solely with those we perceive to be of similar status with us. We must reject any lifestyle or mindset that leads us to believe or feel that the less fortunate individuals in our society should be kept at a distance. A humble heart does not look down upon the poor; instead, it recognizes them as fellow firstborn children of God and generously invites them to partake in His abundance. Furthermore, Jesus calls us to demonstrate humility in our social lives by refraining from thinking of ourselves as those who should occupy places of honour in society; we should rather allow others to acknowledge and honour us, “for everyone who exalts himself will be humiliated, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

According to St Augustine, pride turned angels into devils, whereas humility turns men into angels. Dear friends, the rewards we will receive from God when we humble ourselves before Him and our fellow humans far surpass any benefits we might gain from living a life steeped in pride. Pride is a deadly sin that triggers other sins. This should lead us to question the vision those who identify themselves as the 'Pride' community and the 'Pride Movement' have for our beloved world. May God help us.

Have a blessed Sunday

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima