Today is the 16th Sunday after Pentecost. I welcome everyone, most especially our visitors today. In the opening prayer, we call upon God’s mercy so that we would continually intend to do good works. Our concern is to spend time together to adore, to worship and to be nourished by His Holy Body and Blood.
In the epistle today, from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, St. Paul emphasizes the importance of prayer. He says that “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom all paternity in heaven and earth is named.” (vv.14-15) He always begins his ministry in prayer. Today we still need to know more about what prayer really does and how it benefits us, which many of us believe is necessary to start a conversation with God on how we want to be helped by Him.
Our gesture of kneeling is our ordinary custom, because we know that something is going on that is so intense and deep, especially during the consecration. It is why we bow our knees before God, our Father. Our sense of a loving relationship with our Father gives us all what we need, guidance and increasing communion. When you are disappointed in life, feel like giving up, lose heart, and are ready to quit, then remember to turn to God, our loving Father. What He desires is to allow Him to be involved with your life for you to grow, and His concern too is about your prosperity and well-being. St. Paul prayed for the Ephesians so that they would be granted that for which they have prayed. It is easy to understand now that prayer is a cry of helplessness: as in the introit today speaks: “Have mercy on me, O Lord for I have cried to Thee all the day.” We truly need God in our lives.
The gospel today from St. Luke 14:1-11 tells us about the teaching of Jesus on Humility. We will learn, from this gospel pericope, lessons which can be applied in our daily life.
First, Jesus healed again during the Sabbath, which we all know that His focus is to liberate mankind from all sickness, evil possessions and attacks, and to restore everyone to wholeness of life. In other scriptural text, Jesus desires to save rather than to destroy us. The Pharisees and Scribes misunderstood and wrongly interpret the Law. They were there closely watching Jesus but did nothing to help those who were in need; instead they overburden others to strictly comply with the law to the letter.
Second, Jesus mentions a man who was invited to a wedding and sat in “a place of honor.” (v.8). Nobody told him to take that seat, but he deemed himself worthy of sitting there. He was just presuming that he was more important than anyone else invited to that wedding. Sometimes we have the tendency to elevate ourselves rather than to humble ourselves in front of the people. We always take advantage of the opportunity to claim our rights over others in many ways. However, the teaching truth of the Lord is this: “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,” (v11) When we practice the virtue of humility, others will honor us, while pride gives shame and humiliation.
Third, the gospel today points clearly that we need to cultivate humility in our lives. How do we do that? First, think of Jesus frequently and how he sets a good example. Secondly, we must think of ourselves less often or not think of our own advantage all the time. Thirdly, we need instead to think of others often.
Cleve Staples Lewis, (1898-1963) one of the most influential writers of the 20th century and even now, has this to say, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” Therefore, we must stop thinking of ourselves too much. I heard this from someone who took the advice of Ann Landers seriously saying, “Don’t accept your dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. If you want true evidence of your worth, get a cat.” It is funny but we tend to believe it.
We must remain humble. If we are always humble then we will not feel embarrassed when we are taken down, but instead we will receive recognition and be exalted by others because of coming from being unknown to being known with dignity, honor and glory. Let us continue to read this beautiful gospel, a story of Jesus which is always a blessing to everyone.
God bless you.
Fr. Arlon, osa
