OT 22 [C]  Sir 3:17-18, 20, 28-29; Heb 12:18-19, 22-24a; Lk 14:1, 7-14

Humility features prominently in today’s first reading. It is a virtue that is not spoken about much today. It tends to get a negative press when it is spoken about. The term humility comes from the Latin word ‘humus’, meaning earth or ground. Humility, in that sense, is about keeping our feet on the ground; it is the virtue of being honest and real. To be humble is to recognize our own truth and the truth of others.

 

Humble people acknowledge that whatever abilities they possess have been given to them by God. Thanksgiving to God rather than self-congratulations is the response of the humble person to the ways that they have been graced and gifted. Mary, the mother of Jesus, exemplifies the virtue of humility in the opening words of her Magnificat prayer, ‘My soul glorifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for the Almighty has worked marvels for me. Holy is his name’. Mary knew that she was greatly favoured, but she also acknowledged that this was due to God alone and not to herself. Mary did not attempt to be less than she was. All generations will call me blessed she said. She recognized the truth of her own life and she proclaimed it publicly. She did not pretend to be more than she was either.

Humility is first of all, clarity and honesty about ourselves, the gifts and talents we have, and the gifts we don’t have, our limitations. Humility is also about the truth of our relationship with God. We recognize that the gifts, the abilities, the strengths we have are ultimately gifts from God for the service of others. This is what St Paul had to say about himself ‘By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me has not been in vain’.

 

There are forms of pride that are good… and there are certainly forms of pride that are bad. Balancing pride and humility is a problem for most of us. It all depends upon what we’re being proud about.

We should have enough pride to render good quality to our workmanship. We should do things well and be properly proud of that quality of the product of our craftsmanship. If we have musical or artistic talents we should openly share them with others and not have a false humility that causes us to withhold what we can create for others. Hiding our light under a bushel does not give honor and glory to God, to our heavenly Father who gave us our talents so that we might brighten and build up the lives of those around us. So, there are forms of pride that are healthy and beneficial not only to ourselves but to others as well.

Then there are forms of pride that are bad. They cut us off from others and isolate us. There is a kind of pride that comes from the delusion that tells us we’re totally self-sufficient. Satan tempted Adam and Eve by telling them that if they ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil they would be like God, that they could decide for themselves what was good and what was evil. In other words they could make their own reality.

We are deluded if we think we can handle everything and that we don’t need anyone else’s help. We disguise it by saying, “my problems are my problems – they’re no one else’s business. I can take care of my own problems.”
For instance, some people proclaim that they’re not alcoholic. For them an alcoholic is a drunken bum, living in filth in the gutter, drinking booze from a bottle wrapped in a paper bag. In their deluded pride alcoholics say, “Thank God I’m not one of them!”

The truth is that judges are alcoholics, doctors are alcoholics, airline pilots are alcoholics… and, yes, even some priests are alcoholics. Pride keeps many from admitting that fact. Pride prevents them from acquiring the necessary help to bring it under control. Pride keeps people in a world of denial. They think that while they may perhaps have a problem it’s only a minor problem. The truth is that many others suffer from their problem. “I may drink too much once in a while”, alcoholics claim, “but it’s not hurting anyone.’ All the while their spouse and their children are suffering as the alcoholic rages on in the way he or she treats all who have to live with an alcoholic or work with that drinker.

Then there are horrible problem marriages. Pride rears its ugly head again, and say: “Well, I don’t need any counseling help. Counselors don’t know what they’re talking about. I can take care of my own problems – I don’t need anyone else’s help.”

In this parable Jesus isn’t merely talking about nice table manners. He’s talking about the way you and I live our lives. He’s talking about the way we treat our selves, others, and God.

Pride is the root cause of all sin. Pride, we must always remember, caused Lucifer’s downfall. Perhaps that’s why Jesus spent so much time pointing it out to us and calling us to humbly deal with it under God’s power, under God’s terms.   

There is nothing to lose by being humble. The book of Proverbs tells us, “Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth, honor, and life” (Prov 22:4). On the contrary, pride results in defeat and shame. Any spiritual life not anchored on humility definitely will be an empty one. This is because such a Christian will only work for himself and without regard for others.

        Finally, the church teaches us that: “Humility is the foundation of prayer.” (CCC 2559). Only a humble heart can come and prostrate before God in prayer. Humble persons are always ready to ask for guidance from God and others. Also, they listen and learn from others. It takes humility to say please, and also to ask for forgiveness. So, let us humbly implore the Lord: “O Jesus! Meek and humble of heart, make my heart like yours. From the desire to be honored and esteemed deliver me!”