Introit

 

Kyrie

 

Gloria

 

Collect

God of might, giver of every good gift,
put into our hearts the love of your name,
so that, by deepening our sense of reverence,
you may nurture in us what is good
and, by your watchful care,
keep safe what you have nurtured.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading  Sir 3:17-18, 20, 28-29

My child, conduct your affairs with humility,
   and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.
Humble yourself the more, the greater you are,
   and you will find favor with God.
What is too sublime for you, seek not,
   into things beyond your strength search not.
The mind of a sage appreciates proverbs,
   and an attentive ear is the joy of the wise.
Water quenches a flaming fire,
   and alms atone for sins.

Responsorial Psalm Ps. 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11

â„Ÿ.  God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.

The just rejoice and exult before God;
   they are glad and rejoice.
Sing to God, chant praise to his name;
   whose name is the LORD.

The father of orphans and the defender of widows
   is God in his holy dwelling.
God gives a home to the forsaken;
   he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.

A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your inheritance;
   you restored the land when it languished;
your flock settled in it;
   in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the needy.

Second Reading Heb 12:18-19, 22-24a

Brothers and sisters:
You have not approached that which could be touched
   and a blazing fire and gloomy darkness
   and storm and a trumpet blast
   and a voice speaking words such that those who heard
   begged that no message be further addressed to them.
No, you have approached Mount Zion
   and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,
   and countless angels in festal gathering,
   and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven,
   and God the judge of all,
   and the spirits of the just made perfect,
   and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant,
   and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel.

Acclamation before the Gospel  Mt 11:29ab

 

Gospel Lk 14:1, 7-14

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine
   at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,
   and the people there were observing him carefully.

He told a parable to those who had been invited,
   noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.
“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet,
   do not recline at table in the place of honor.
A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,
   and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say,
   ‘Give your place to this man,’
   and then you would proceed with embarrassment
   to take the lowest place.
Rather, when you are invited,
   go and take the lowest place
   so that when the host comes to you he may say,
   ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’
Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.
For every one who exalts himself will be humbled,
   but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Then he said to the host who invited him,
   “When you hold a lunch or a dinner,
   do not invite your friends or your brothers
   or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,
   in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet,
   invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
   blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.
For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Reflection Questions

How do you conduct your affairs with humility?

What is too sublime for you or beyond your strength?

Who is invited to your table?

Catena Nova

We are all invited to this wedding feast—all of us who have received faith in Christ and the seal of baptism. This table set before us is that of which it is said: “You have prepared a table before me in the sight of those who trouble me.” Here is the showbread, here the fatted calf, here the lamb who takes away the sins of the world. Here is the living bread come down from heaven, here placed before us is the chalice of the New Covenant, here are the gospels and the letters of the apostles, here the books of Moses and the prophets. It is as though a dish containing every delight was brought and set before us. What more then can we desire? What reason is there for choosing the first seats? There is plenty for all no matter where we sit. There is nothing we shall lack.  (St. Bruno of Segni)

Since we ourselves are human beings, we must set before others the meal of kindness no matter why they need it – whether because they are widows, orphans, or exiles; or because they are brutalized by masters, crushed by rulers, dehumanized by tax-collectors, bloodied by robbers, or victimized by the insatiate greed of thieves, be it through confiscation of property or ship-wreck. All such people are equally deserving of mercy, and they look to us for their needs just as we look to God for ours. (St. Gregory Nazienzen)

What is humility but truthfulness? There is no real difference.  (Walter Hilton)

True humility makes no pretense of being humble, and scarcely ever utters words of humility.  (St. Francis de Sales)

Don’t permit your miseries or defects to depress you. Rather, let them be steps by which you descend the deep mine where we find the precious gem of holy humility. Learn that it is our littleness that buys this unique and true treasure that alone renders the soul that possesses it blessed in time and in eternity.  (St. Paola Frassinetti)

Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.  (C.S. Lewis)

The first exercise in simplicity is to accept oneself as one is. There are two tremendous results of this: one is humility; the other is that it enables other people to accept us as we are, and in this there is real charity. (Caryll Houselander)

Homily

     An ardent music lover once came upon the great composer, Johannes Brahms.  Eager for an autograph, he asked if Mr. Brahms might write a few lines of a great masterpiece along with the signature.  The maestro agreed.  Taking pen and paper, he then scribbled the initial bars of The Blue Danube by Johann Strauss and wrote: “Unfortunately not by me, Johannes Brahms.”

     The elusive virtue of humility is held by Christian writers to be among the greatest; indeed, it is considered by many to be the foundation of those moral qualities necessary for the Christian life.  Without humility, we cannot hope to please God and edify our neighbor.  Nor is this opinion  a departure from the gospel.  The evangelists report the Lord Jesus recommending this virtue on numerous occasions; his teaching typically concluding with the following words from today from Luke: Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted. (G)

     Yet, despite its importance humility is probably the least understood of all the virtues.  Many people, upon hearing the word, may think of something negative: that the humble person is someone with low self-esteem, unusually submissive and unassertive, lacking the ability to recognize his or her own gifts and talents; in other words, a person who prefers to be in the background. Given such misunderstandings, it’s no wonder humility suffers from an image problem.

     But genuine humility has nothing to do with belittling oneself; rather, it concerns acknowledging God as the giver of every good gift (Cf. Collect).  The humble person realizes that, apart from God, we are  no-thing.  Human beings can boast of nothing that does not come from God in whom we live and move and have our being (Preface for Sundays in Ordinary Time VI).  In the famous words St. Catherine of Siena heard Christ say in her Dialogues: "Do you know what you are to Me, and what I am to you, my daughter? I am He who is, you are she who is not.”  And that’s the literal truth.    

     Simply put then, humility is the confession of truth: the truth about ourselves in relation to God and to our neighbor.  “What is humility but truthfulness?” asks spiritual master Walter Hilton. “There is no real difference,” he says.

     Of course, part of the truth about ourselves is how blessed we are with good things God bestows on us. The humble person would no more let God’s gifts go unrecognized than let them go unaccredited.  Humility just asks us to exalt God, and not ourselves, for what we have been given and what we have accomplished.  Humility is glad for our total dependence on God, and dares not forget it.

     By the way, this sense of dependence leads to great confidence in God who nurtures in us what is good (Cf. Collect).  Humility does not permit us to be anxious about things, always fretting over life’s ups and downs.  The humble person trusts in divine providence which provides for those trust in God’s goodness.

     Finally, humility leads a person to have great love for God and oneself, as well as profound esteem for one’s neighbor; there is no room here for jealousy or resentment.  This love is based on reverence for the human person created in God’s image and likeness, a dignity possessed by each person equally, regardless of his or her station in life.  Thus, does our Lord expect us to welcome into our company beggars, and the crippled, the lame and the blind. (G)  For only humility can see that, before God, no one is greater or lesser than another; all are entitled to the same respect.

     This past week the liturgy commemorated St. Louis IX, King of France (+1270).  In a page taken right from today's gospel his biography notes how, "Every day, Louis had 13 special guests from among the poor to eat with him, and a large number of poor were served meals near his palace. During Advent and Lent, all who presented themselves were given a meal, and Louis often served them in person. He kept lists of needy people, whom he regularly relieved, in every province of his dominion."  Indeed, we would all likely be better off if we associated with the lowly of this world.

     And so Wisdom tells us to conduct our affairs with humility, thus finding favor with God, (I)  lest we ever forget the depth of kindness which he has shown to those who love him. (Cf. Communion Antiphon)

Creed

Intercessions (Joe Milner; The Sunday Web Site)

For the Church: that we may recognize the many ways God is present and active in our lives so that we may cooperate with God more fully.

For the grace of humility: that we may come to a deeper understanding and ownership of our gifts and acknowledge our need for God amidst all our weaknesses.

For the grace to be more inclusive: that we may be open to all the gifts that different cultural, ethnic, economic, educational, and age groups bring to our community and work to include these gifts in our ministries and activities.

For those who reach out to the poor and the marginalized: that they may recognize Christ in all whom they serve, honor the dignity of each person, and be sincere in their care and compassion.

For healing for all who have experienced violence, particularly for parents who have lost children: that God will comfort all who are grieving, heal all who have been injured, and inspire many to accompany those who are hurting.

For all recovering from natural disasters: that God will give them strength and patience as they face the challenges of each day and speed the resources which they need to them.

For Christian Communities facing suffering and persecution, particularly the church in Nicaragua: that God will protect them from harm, help them to be faithful witnesses to the Gospel, and empower them to show forgiveness to their persecutors.

For the protection of the earth: that God will guide us in being good stewards of God's creation so that all people may experience the blessings that earth brings forth.

For all who are ill: that God’s love will bring healing and renewal to them, an end to the pandemics, and strength to all who care for the sick.

God and judge of all,
you show us that the way to your kingdom
is through humility and service.
Keep us true to the path of justice
and give us the reward promised to those
who make a place for the rejected and the poor.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen. (ICEL; 1998)

Offertory Hymn

 

When summoned to a wedding feast,

Make haste to find a lowly seat;

All those who humbly treat themselves

Will be with fullness soon replete.

The reason for humility

Comes not from low or sinful state;

‘Tis rather that we’re Zion’s guests,

Ringed round by saints and angels great.

Where we behold the Son of God

Who builds the bridge from heav’n to earth.

To live as Christ, to humbly serve,

Is surest gate to heaven’s mirth.

Communion Antiphon

 

Closing Hymn

Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness,
leave the gloomy haunts of sadness,
come into the daylight's splendor,
there with joy thy praises render
unto him whose grace unbounded
hath this wondrous banquet founded;
high o'er all the heavens he reigneth,
yet to dwell with thee he deigneth.

Now I sink before thee lowly,
filled with joy most deep and holy,
as with trembling awe and wonder
on thy mighty acts I ponder;
how, by mystery surrounded,
depths no man hath ever sounded,
none may dare to pierce unbidden
secrets that with thee are hidden.

Sun, who all my life dost brighten;
Light, who dost my soul enlighten;
Joy, the sweetest man e'er knoweth;

Fount, whence all my being floweth:
at thy feet I cry, my Maker,
let me a fit partaker
of this blessed food from heaven,
for our good, thy glory, given.

Jesus, Bread of life, I pray thee,
let me gladly here obey thee;
never to my hurt invited,
be thy love with love requited;
from this banquet let me measure,
Lord, how vast and deep its treasure;
through the gifts thou here dost give me,
as thy guest in heaven receive me.