TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2022

TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

First Reading: Sirach 3:17-18 , 20, 28-29

Second Reading: Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24

Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-14

A college professor and an elderly farmer find themselves sitting next to one another on a long flight. The college professor thinks himself very bright and decides to have a little fun. He suggests they play a game. The farmer is tired and politely says he would rather get a nap. The college professor persists saying to the farmer, “it is a lot of fun.” He said, “I will ask you a question and if you can’t answer it, you pay me $5. Then you ask me a question and if I can’t answer it, I’ll pay you $500.” This gets the farmer’s attention so he agrees to play. So, the professor asks, “how far away is the moon?” The farmer does not say a word but reaches into his pocket and pulls out a $5 bill and gives it to the professor. Then the professor says, “You ask me a question.” So, the farmer asked, “what goes up a hill with three legs and comes down with four?” The professor was challenged. He looked up references on his laptop, called a couple of his smart colleagues and after half an hour he gave up in frustration. Meanwhile, the farmer was taking a nap. The professor woke him and handed him $500. The farmer put it in his pocket and went back to sleep. The professor is going crazy not knowing the answer so he wakes the farmer up and asks: “well, so what goes up a hill with three legs and comes down with four?” The farmer reached into his pocket, handed the professor $5 and went back to sleep.

Don’t we all just love to see people who think they are superior or too smart brought down to earth? In the parable of the invited guests, Jesus’ intention is not to give a lesson on good manners, nor is He just teaching us how to avoid embarrassment at invitations. It is not even about the appropriate way to get exalted; Jesus criticizes the frame of mind that seeks exaltation in any fashion. He is teaching what is of paramount importance if we are to enter into the kingdom of God which He compares to table invitation.

Humility and self-knowledge go hand in hand. Those who conduct their affairs with humility shall be exalted. The first reading says, they will find favor with God. God has a predilection for the humble. Those who exalt themselves shall be humbled. Humility is so necessary for salvation that Jesus takes every opportunity to stress its importance. In the Gospel today, He uses the attitudes of people at a banquet to remind us that it is God who assigns the places. James says, “Be humbled in the sight of the Lord and he will raise you on high” (James 4:10).

Christ, Himself is our perfect model of humility. Paul said, “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God had highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2: 5-11). 

Humility is the disposition and virtue that recognizes our ultimate dependency on God for all things, and seeks to live in that truth and reality. It is expressed in the daily events of life – particularly in how we behave toward others and conduct our affairs.

Coach Shug Jordan at Auburn University asked his former Linebacker Mike Kollin, who was then playing for the Miami Dolphins if he would help his alma mater do some recruiting.

Mike said, “Sure, coach. What kind of player are you looking for?” The coach said, “Well Mike, you know there’s that fellow, you knock him down, he just stays down?” Mike said, “We don’t want him, do we, coach?” “No, that’s right. Then there’s that fellow, you knock him down and he gets up, you knock him down again and he stays down.” Mike said, “We don’t want him either do we coach?” The coach said, “No, but Mike, there’s a fellow, you knock him down, he gets up. Knock him down, he gets up. Knock him down, he gets up. Knock him down, he gets up.” Mike said, “That’s the guy we want. Isn’t it, coach?” The coach answered, “No, Mike, we don’t want him either. I want you to find the guy who’s knocking everybody down. That’s the guy we want.”

That’s the guy we want to be seen with! That we want to invite to our dinners and social gatherings because deeply it is the kind of people we want to be. We don’t want to be seen with the guys who are always being knocked down–the poor, crippled, the lame, the blind. But these are the very people, Jesus is asking us to invite to the table and be associated with. They offer us a unique opportunity for heavenly rewards.

Happy Sunday

Fr Chidi Onwuka M,Ss.Cc