September 01, 2019. Homily for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year (C)

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

Stay Humble or Stumble 

The readings today address the virtue we all need but sometimes find difficult to put into practice - humility. “My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts” (first reading). ‘Humility’ comes from the Latin word ‘humilitas’, a noun related to the adjective humilis, translated as “humble”, also as “grounded”, or “from the earth”, since it derives from humus (earth). A humble person has a modest or low view on his or her own importance. Jesus Christ invites us to “…learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves” (Matt. 11:29). The way of Christ is that of the lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. He is the suffering servant of God who is “not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street. A bruised reed he shall not break and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, until he establishes justice on the earth” (Is. 42:1-4). And so the readings call on us to be humble in dealing with others. He who is humble is always loved by people. His humility is therefore a gift that is more than material for he gives the gift of himself to others.

Humility is not self-abasement or self-depreciating. We must not underestimate or underrate our abilities. God has given us all gifts and they are for a good purpose to be put at the service of God, to build up his body the church. Humility disposes us to put our time, talent and treasure in the service of God and his people. It enables us to recognize our weaknesses and limitations and make it possible for us to acknowledge that everything we have comes from God hence, we receive God’s gifts with gratitude. Since all we have is a gift from God, what we have and what we are should not make us pompous, boastful, narcissistic, arrogant, haughty, conceited, egotistic and inconsiderate. Rather, we should put God first in all things, people next before ourselves. That is the fruit of humility. The book of Proverbs reminds us that “Before his downfall a man’s heart is haughty, but humility goes before honors” (Prov. 18:12). Pride goes before the fall, if we are not humble then we stumble and fall. And what a fall that would be!

In the Gospel we have just heard we are invited to dinner by God the father himself, just as Christ dinned at the leading Pharisees’ house. Many of those invited were busy taking places of honor regardless of who else was invited. This is a common phenomenon in our society today. Christ reminds us that it is better to be invited to a high table by our host than to be demoted to the floor seat with others. Wont we be embarrassed if we are told to give up our place to someone more important than ourselves? How do we present ourselves before God the Father and Jesus Christ, his Son at the eucharistic table? Have we come to church with the sole purpose of meeting the Lord and to celebrate with our brothers and sisters or have we come to tell God of our importance? Do we discriminate against others at the table of the Lord or do we see ourselves as brothers and sisters in worship of our Father? Are we boastful and conceited like the Pharisee in the bible, “O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity – greedy, dishonest, adulterous – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income” or are we humble enough to know our position in life and acknowledge our need for God? ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner’? (Lk. 18:9-14). It is true indeed that a humble person who often looks up to God rarely looks down on anyone, especially if they were poor, for he does not see himself as being better than anyone. Isn’t it funny that some of us like to sit at the back pew in church but when invited to a social gathering we take the seat at the high table with no consideration that someone greater than us may have been invited and we may have to give up our seat to that person.  

Christ exhorts us to consider deeply who to invite to our celebrations. The law of reciprocity is to be avoided by all means. We are to invite rather, the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, the disenfranchised and the downtrodden. That they are unable to repay us means we are blessed for we will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. Thus, Christ reminds us in Matthew’s Gospel that our being admitted into the kingdom will depend on how we treated the poor. Did we feed the hungry, or give water to the thirsty, did we welcome the stranger or cloth the naked, did we visit those in prison or sick at home? “What you did not do for one of these least one you did not do for me”. So is our humility grounded in our faith to the point of seeing everyone as my brother or my sister? Do I allow Christ to grow in my life so that I no longer see how important I am but the importance of those around? Can I say with St. Paul, “Yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me”? (Gal. 2:20). May it be so now and always. Amen.

August 25, 2019: 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time of Year (C)

Readings: Isaiah 66:18-21; Heb. 12:5-7, 11-13; Lk 13:22-30

The Road Less Traveled

We pride ourselves as a diverse community in South-West Baltimore. True! We come from different ethnic backgrounds and speak different languages. But the one thing that brings us together is our love for God and his people. Our relationship outside our worshipping community stems from having worshipped God together in the Church. Because we see God as our father, we have a relationship with God’s children whom we see as brothers and sisters. Isaiah the prophet makes this point clearly thus. “I am coming to gather the nations of every language. They shall come to witness my glory. I will give them a sign and send some of their survivors to the nations” (First reading). The prophet wrote this to encourage the children of Israel exiled in Babylon. Two generations of Israelites were already in their land of exile. They had given up hope of ever returning home to Judea and their beloved temple in Jerusalem. The prophet told them that God would visit them again to restore their fortune. They will worship God again in Jerusalem. He reminded that at the time of their visitation people from foreign nations will join them to worship the God of Israel. Even foreigners would be accepted as priests. This way of thinking was foreign to them who thought salvation was their birthright. Jesus addresses the question of salvation in the Gospel reading of today.

The Children of Israel were to see their time in a foreign land as a period of testing and a time of discipline. God tested them because he loved them. “Suffering is part of your training; God is treating you as his sons. Has there ever been any son whose father did not train him?” (Second reading). Much as we hate suffering, it is a necessary part of our existence. There is no crown without a cross. Many people would do anything to avoid pains, suffering and discipline. Many have taken to drugs, alcohol, sex and violent behaviors to numb their pains. Truth be told, problems do not go away, they must be worked through. Whatever you currently take to avoid pains and suffering will wear off and your pains will intensify after. It is only with discipline that we can solve life’s problems.

And so, Christ invites us in today’s Gospel to make a choice. In answering the question “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” His answer was simple: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough”. Christ calls us to make a journey on the road less traveled. If we are not committed to our Christian calling, we will be cast out of the kingdom. How sad would it be to see our perceived enemies in heaven and we in hell? We would not be able to rely on our knowledge of the law or being faithful in praying the rosary or going to Mass or being faithful recipient of the Eucharist. These will not make Christ to open the door for us, in fact we may hear instead, “I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!” (Gospel reading). To people like this Isaiah says: “These people claim to worship me, but their words are meaningless, and their hearts are somewhere else. Their religion is nothing but human rules and traditions, which they have simply memorized” (29:13).

Does God know your work and your thoughts? (First reading). Do you have a personal relationship with God such as will influence your relationship with others? To the question “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Christ answered: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments” (Matt. 22:36-40). Those whom God knows, who do His will, who allow God to discipline them will be admitted into his kingdom, not those call on God daily and do not do what he commands.

We have a choice before us today, to choose the road less traveled which leads to joy, peace and eternal bliss or choose the path that guarantees instant happiness and long suffering after. Remember ‘a life in chains and freedom after forever is better than the struggle to free oneself in vain’. Choose a life with God or a life without him. Choose forgiveness and peaceful coexistence with others or a life of hatred and sadness. The choice is yours. But to every choice there are consequences. May we choose the narrow path, the road less traveled so as to enter into a life of happiness and peace with God. May we never hear the words: “I do not know where you are from. Depart from me all you evil doers”. May God bless us now and always. Amen.

August 18, 2019: Homily for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year (C)

Readings: Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10; Heb. 12:1-4; Lk 12:49-53

Be Courageous and Speak Truth to Power

In November of 1982, 25 young men entered into formation in the National Missionary Seminary of St. Paul. One of them was a Moslem convert to Christianity, unknown to his family. Since he was from the area where the Seminary was located and knew the terrain he was our designated driver. One day, he was sent on an errand to the parish close by. He did not know that his father had posted scouts to trace his whereabout. On coming out of the rectory, he was accosted by his father and taken back home. He was persuaded to give up his desire to be a priest, but he refused, his mind was made up. After a long persuasion, he was let go. Today he is a missionary priest. “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father”

This is by no means an isolated case. There are many priests, bishops and religious who have gone through similar situations to answer the call to follow Christ. They have had to suffer deprivations and torment of one kind or the other in their chosen vocation. Jeremiah in the first reading of today was not different. As a prophet, Jeremiah had to toe a fine line of prophesying for God or telling people what they wanted to hear. Jeremiah lived and died trying to change the course of human history, by denouncing evil and doing good. He warned that if the people continued in their evil ways the nation will be destroyed; but for saying that he was condemned and thrown into a muddy cistern to die (Jer. 38:6). Jesus spoke of waging war against evil and of bringing fire of judgement on the wicked; but for speaking like that he was baptized with death (Lk. 12:50).

In the nations of the world, we have heard of or seen kings, queens and presidents who feel that they are above the law. No one can oppose them and anyone who dares is ridiculed, called names and condemned. We have seen or heard of children, immigrants and the poor being hounded and pushed around like sheep without a shepherd and we feel powerless. We lack the courage and the will-power to speak out or do something about unjust situations for fear of repercussion and repression. And yet our Christian duties call us to stand up and speak out. To be courageous and speak the truth to power no matter the outcome. We are ambassadors for Christ who are to be the voice to the voiceless and to be our brothers’ keepers. Our baptism enjoins us to identify with the widows and orphans, the downtrodden and the helpless and be a sign of hope to the hopeless. How can we help the poor if we are afraid to identify with them? How can we be like Jesus in our willingness to set the world on fire with love if we are unwilling to take action when we need to? Christians must not allow fear to turn them into cowards and weaklings. Why be afraid when Christ has warned us time and time again not to be!

History has taught us that each time a person stands up for what is right and speaks out against injustice, segregation, nepotism, racism and intimidation, ripples of hope are sent forth and these ripples can build up into waves that can sweep down the mightiest walls of resistance. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood up and fought against racism and segregation, though he paid the ultimate price, we are reaping some benefits of his resistance, even if it be in trickles. Yes, our loyalty to Christ’s teaching is sure to rock the boat causing divisions. “I have come for divisions” (Lk 12:52), Christ warns. The Church must not allow the power of the media, political powers and the popular voices in the streets to drown the teaching of Christ even if it is unpopular. The church must hold on to her moral power of being both mother and teacher. For the division Christ talks about is due to the fact that “the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil” (Jn. 3:19). We must be light-carriers at all times and allow the power of our light to set the world ablaze with love. Even if our collective efforts for good should cause us to be dropped into the muddy cistern of opposition like Jeremiah, we should be rest assured that a Cushite will come to deliver us from the pangs of death and abandonment (Jer. 38:10). We must fight on keeping our eyes on the prize of the joy that lies ahead. Why? Because we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses (Heb. 12:1-2). Let us take consolation from these heroes and heroines of our faith. Let us ask them to intercede for us so that we may have the courage to speak truth to power and alleviate some of the sufferings of the world. May we never be afraid to choose the Lord for though the cost of discipleship may be enormous, it will guarantee our peace and joy. For Christ has assured us this much: “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world” (Jn. 16:33). May God bless and keep us now and always. Amen.