Fr. Paul Campbell’s article for August 29th readings
Sir 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 Heb 12: 18-19, 22-24a Lk 14: 1, 7-14
Anyone who has been a catholic for even a short amount of time has realized that you have to get to church pretty early to get the back pews. For years pastors have been trying to get the people in the back pews to move forward. Usually their attempts fail. After reading the gospel from Luke this week it seems that these people are to be honored. In his gospel Luke quotes Jesus telling his followers” When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet do not recline at table in the place of honor. 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. For every one who exalts himself will be humbled but the one who humbles himself will be exalted”. Now we know who the truly humble members of our parishes are. What then is to be said about the rest of us? How are we to practice the virtue of humility? The author of the letter to the Hebrews gives us a hint by showing different views of God. The Old Testament notion of God was that of an unapproachable distant judge of all behavior who would punish the sinner. The author then speaks about Jesus as the “mediator of a new covenant”. This new covenant demonstrates that our God is approachable as he became one of us. As the scriptures say “He humbled himself and took the form of a slave”. The humble person is approachable. Do people feel comfortable coming to you and sharing their thoughts or do they cross the street to avoid you? The humble person has self-knowledge. What that means is they are aware of their faults as well as their talents. Quickly, can you name the faults of the people you live or work with? Now what about your own faults? Can you name them as quickly? I have found that in my own life I am much more tolerant of the faults of others when I remind myself of some of the dumb things that I have done. A great suggestion for growth in self knowledge is the examination of conscience. Each night before you go to bed spend a few moments reflecting on your actions that day in the light of the gospel. One of the benefits of this spiritual exercise is that it makes you more aware of your own faults while at the same time remembering that our God is a compassionate God. A good example of the compassion of Jesus is found in the beginning of the gospel. Luke tells us “On a Sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees and the people there were observing him carefully”. It doesn’t take a scripture scholar to know that when the words “Jesus” and “Pharisees” are used in the same sentence there is going to be trouble. This wasn’t going to be one of those let your hair down dinners with his disciples. This was going to be work. Yet Jesus went. Why? He felt sorry for the Pharisees and meet with them to try and help them change. The humble person is compassionate. Even toward those that disagree with them and are out to get them. Humility leads to compassion. The next time you find yourself being too critical realize that you are heading in the opposite direction from humility. Humility, like all the virtues can only be seen by the way we live. As far as those who sit in the back rows at mass, they may or may not be humble people. We can only tell when someone comes late and asks them to move over.