The science class was discussing about whales. The teacher pointed out that this large creature has a very small throat that would make it physically impossible to swallow a human. But one boy objected: “But according to the Bible, Jonah was swallowed by a whale!” The teacher dismissed the comment and insisted that it was simply impossible. The boy reluctantly gave up and murmured, “When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah”. The teacher teased the boy and asked, “How sure are you that Jonah is in heaven? What if he went to hell?” The little boy replied, “Then you ask him”. One night a little girl was watching her mother preparing her bed. For the first time, she noticed strands of white hair sticking out of her long shiny black hair. She suddenly asked, “Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?” Her mother replied, “Well, this is what happens when little girls misbehave. Their moms become unhappy, and one by one the hairs turn white.” The little girl thought about this for a while and then happily announced her new discovery: “Now I know why ALL of grandma’s hairs are white!” The moral is: Don’t ever mess with children. They have their way of expressing the truth with candor and profound wisdom that often leaves us dumbfounded. We get valuable lessons from them. In relation to the Gospel today, if little children are invited to a party, we will be certain that not one of them will mind where they will sit at table. Their only concern is to be with friends, to eat and have fun. Not one of them cares about position, honor or fame. But among adults, it is the opposite. The focus is on the self. Before going to a party, they would spend great time and money making sure they will look good – nice shoes and dress, hair and makeup, expensive perfume and all trimmings imaginable. And when they finally arrive at the party, their main concern is not the food or the program, but on how much attention they get from others. It is said that there are two kinds of people who come to the party. The first is the one who enters as inconspicuously as possible, looks around for a familiar face, and finding one, says, “There he is!” The second is the one who enters the hall with fanfare to make sure everybody notices his coming, practically announcing, “Here I am!” To the first group belong the little children and the childlike. To the second group are the selfish and proud adults. Last Sunday, the parting words of Jesus is a warning: “Some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last” (Lk 13:30). It is definitely a lesson on humility. This lesson is further underscored this Sunday. The first reading from the Book of Sirach gives this exhortation: “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 mercy in the sight of God” (Sir 3:17-18). In the Gospel, the advice of Jesus to the guests seeking places of honor at table was obviously a practical lesson on humility: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Lk 14:11). Unfortunately, humility is not an attractive virtue. This word itself comes from the Latin “humus”, which means, “soil”. Who wants soil, anyway? Everybody wants diamond and gold, but not soil – it’s messy and dirty! But where do gold and diamonds come from? We would prefer to be the tall and mighty building, rather than the soil. But where do we walk on without soil? Where will those magnificent buildings and structures stand on without soil? Where will the trees and plants grow? Just as soil is essential to our earthly existence, so also humility is to our soul. Yes, humility is not attractive, but it is essentially necessary in our spiritual life. It is
impossible to think of any Christian virtue and holiness without it. Though unattractive, humility makes one attractive to God and to others: “you will be loved more than a giver of gifts…you will find favor with God”, the Book of Sirach assures us. It is precisely the humility and obedience of Jesus that exalted him to the heavens, “and bestowed on him the Name above every other name.” It is necessary therefore, to constantly check ourselves and make sure our ego is not inflated. The doctor tells us to have regular medical checkup and watch out for the rising numbers of cholesterol, sugar, salt, blood pressure in our system. They do not go up in an instant, but they result from a long period of unhealthy food and drink intakes and bad habits. In a similar way, in our spiritual life, the sin of pride does not appear instantly. As little children, we did not have it. But as we grew up, we gradually learned unhealthy habits that accumulated and stuck to our person like cholesterol plaques that constrict the flow of blood in our arteries. Then, our ego steadily began rising, and without noticing it, pride has slowly gripped and hardened our heart, threatening us with spiritual stroke and paralysis. There are clear symptoms of pride that we can easily recognize. When we expect praise and appreciation for every good thing we do; when we are too shy to come out and volunteer our services and talents because we are afraid of being criticized; when even a small negative comment about our work easily hurts us; when we enjoy talking about the mistakes and sins of others; when we fiercely believe we are always right and refuse to listen to the opinion of others; when we always seek positions of prestige or power; when we are afraid or unwilling to let go of a position or function that makes us feel important and indispensable – these are all but a few examples of pride getting into us. Undoubtedly, pride has a lot of various and subtle manifestations. Awareness of them can greatly help us overcome its ugly head. On the other hand, humility is not very easy to practice and notice. Archbishop Fulton Sheen said, “Humility is like an underwear. You have it, but you don’t show it.” Nowadays, we see people walking on the streets with their underwear exposed”.
In the lesson from today’s gospel, Jesus teaches and desires for every disciple of his, including us, to be humble. Humility is one virtue that opens our eyes to the existence of other persons. It is humility that helps us recognize and respect the presence of others. It is humility that makes us willing to offer the first or best places to others and makes us comfortable with the second place. It is humility that facilitates the love we ought to have for others.
In fact, it is in such humility opposed to honor that we are adequately prepared for the coming of God’s Kingdom. When in terms of biblical wisdom, we think less often of ourselves, more often of others and most often of God. In the city of the living God, everyone is like a firstborn child. As members of God’s family, we all have equal dignity.
Jesus rejects pride, because it is the opposite of the deeper truth. Our salvation cannot be deserved, cannot be claimed, for the grace of God is a pure gift. It is better to come to God as a beggar with this simple request: “Lord, help me.” We need to accept our limitations, and realize our need for Christ’s redeeming power in our lives. Grace is most clearly present for one who knows that she or he is needy. As St Paul puts it, “I am content with my weaknesses and with
insults, hardships, persecutions, for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:9).