August 31, 2025

22^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) 

Our Lord’s Seating Arrangement

Msgr. Thomas Gervasio

 
A very famous football coach was on vacation with his family in Maine. When they walked into a movie theater and sat down, the handful of people present in the theatre stood and applauded. He said to his wife, "It’s remarkable that I am recognized here in Maine!" Then a man came over to him and said, "Thanks for coming. They won't start the movie for less than ten people." 
 
We all need moments like that to take us down from our pedestal and keep us humble. A visit to the home of a leading Pharisee for dinner prompted Our Lord to impart a lesson on humility. St. Luke tells us that the people there were “observing him carefully.” But Jesus was doing a bit of observing himself, noticing that they were vying for the first, the best places at table. Why? Because they, like the football coach, thought themselves important. 
 
There may have been yet another motive: Food was served “family style” and being seated close to the head table, they would have the greater portion and selection of food. Have you ever been the last person at table to receive an nearly empty serving dish after it has gone around? There always seems to be someone who takes more than needed. 
 
Whatever the case, Our Lord chides the guests for their pride. Now, pride has a positive side in the sense of having a healthy self-respect. But at this dinner we find its negative side—in an exaggerated sense of self or an excessive love of honors and praise. Bishop Sheen pointed out that this aspect of pride shows itself in different ways: boasting, love of publicity, hypocrisy (pretending to be something we are not) being stubborn (your opinion cannot be as good as my opinion), quarreling and disobedience. 
 
Humility does not mean belittling yourself or being a “doormat” for others. Humility is truth. It means acknowledging with gratitude our God-given gifts while also being aware of our limitations and sins. 
 
The humble live in reality and not in an illusion. I like the advice the late Cardinal Basil Hume gave to a friend whose virtues were being a bit over sung in his hearing, he said, “Enjoy that, but don’t inhale please!” 
 
Today’s first reading reminds us: “Conduct your affairs with humility...humble yourself the more, the greater you are and you will find favor with God.” The late Senator Alan Simpson applied this to the Washington scene: “Those who travel the high road of humility in Washington are not bothered by heavy traffic.” But this is true on all levels of society!
 
Jesus chided the guests but did not spare his host: When you hold a…dinner, do not invite your friends, family members or the wealthy. They might return the favor. Rather, invite the poor, crippled, the lame, the blind.” You will be blessed because they cannot repay you.”
 
Our Lord is not telling us to never invite friends and family to dinner. He is saying we should not do good with the ulterior motive of getting something in return. It is a call to be self-less rather than self-centered. to be of service to others rather than being self-absorbed.

Lord, help us see that true humility begins within. Help us replace our pride with gentleness and meekness. Give us the grace to see ourselves as you see us, no more, no less. Help us know our strengths and weaknesses realizing that true humility is not self-depreciation but a deep appreciation of who I am in your eyes.