22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C, Year I)

Community Word:True disciples possess the heart and character of Christ.

Theme:We possess the heart and character of Christ when we conduct ourselves with humility.

Promise:“Humble yourself the more…and you will find favor with God.” (Sir 3:18)

Reflection:
Being meek and gentle of heart is Jesus’ nature. He disdains those who are self-centered and hypocritical. James 4:6 says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

We live in a world that values competition and success. People vie for places of honor, recognition and position; thus, there is hardly any place for the weak and the marginalized. But before God, there is no room for pride and arrogance, for pride will have its shame and the consequence is one’s downfall. As taught to us in the book of Sirach: “Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find mercy in the sight of God,” (Sir 3:18).

The reality is that we can be easily tempted to think that the way to greatness involves letting everyone know that we are on top of things, we are in charge and everything is successful by our own personal effort. Then we expect people to see this and give us their adulation; we want to be noticed and be praised. Sometimes, we tend to exaggerate who we are by the little things that we do and say. On the other hand, when we are criticized, we become devastated. When someone says negative things, we feel hurt and angry, and sometimes feel vengeful. Why? Because our pride is wounded and we will always feel hurt unless we practice the gift of humility.

Humility is truth in self-understanding and truth in action. Viewing yourselves truthfully, “not thinking of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather thinking of yourself with sober judgment”(Rom 12:3), means seeing ourselves the way God sees us (cf. Ps 139:1-4). Humility is best described as “thinking rightly of oneself as God thinks of us.” Humility is a virtue that enables us to be real. It allows us to be comfortable with our good qualities as well as with our failures and limitations. A humble person does not have to wear a mask or put a façade in order to look good to others. He is not swayed by accidental things such as fame, reputation, success or failure.

Humility is the foundation of all other virtues, hence, if it does not exist in one’s soul there cannot be any other virtue. It frees us to love and serve others selflessly, for their sake rather than our own. St. Paul reminds us that the greatest example and model of humility is the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant…who humbled Himself and become obedient unto death, even death on a cross, (cf. Phil 2:7-8).

Being members and leaders of a Christian community, and as we allow our love for God to grow, our humility must also grow. And it will surely grow if we possess the heart and character of Christ. Likewise, as members of the body of Christ, Jesus wants us to be exalted for “the one who humbles himself will be exalted,” (Lk 14:11). He wants our light of goodness to shine for all to see and for that light to make a difference. And He desires it to be done in truth, not in self pretense, but shining forth in perfect humility of heart and action.

Pride has caused a lot of difficulties in our lives resulting in conflicts among family members and friends, and squabbles within a community. It deprived us of being forbearing, understanding, tolerant and accepting of other people’s weaknesses and limitations. It’s the time for reflection and introspective and to see ourselves and others the way God sees us. Let us allow the Lord to strip away every pride in us so that He will be able to minister to us, and bring out the truth about ourselves as created in the image and likeness of God. The more we humble ourselves, the higher God will exalt us in His ways, so thatour hearts can be seen and loved by those around us. And we will received His promise: “Humble yourself the more…and you will find favor with God,” (Sir 3:18).

Prayer:
Almighty Father, grant me the grace of true humility. Help me to recognize myself as a sinner, but saved by Your Son, Jesus Christ, that I may possess His heart and character. Let me live in humble service that my true light may shine for others to see. Lord, I offer my humble self to You that I may gain your favors and blessings, exalted in Jesus name. Amen.

Reflection Guide Questions:
1. Am I growing in humility, seeing myself as God sees me? What should I do to guard myself against pride and arrogance?
2. Knowing that loving others follows the virtue of humility, am I presently in conflict with another person? What must I do to be reconciled with him or her?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
September 1, 2019 (Sun)- Sir 3:17, 18, 20, 28, 29/Ps 68:4-7, 10, 11/Heb 12:18, 19, 22-24/Lk 14:1, 7-14
September 2, 2019 (Mon) – 1Thes 4:13-18/Ps 96:1, 3, 4, 5, 11-13/Lk 4:16-30
September 3, 2019 (Tue) -1Thes 5:1-6, 9-11/Ps 27:1, 4, 13, 14/Lk 4:31-37
September 4, 2019 (Wed) – 1:1-8/Ps 52:10, 11/Lk 4:38-44
September 5, 2019 (Thu) – Col 1:9-14/Ps 98:2-6/Lk 5:1-11
September 6, 2019 (Fri) – Col 1:15-20/Ps 100:1-5/Lk 5:33-39
September 7, 2019 (Sat) – Col 1:21-23/Ps 54:3, 4, 6, 8/Lk 6:1-5

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”