Posted on septiembre 2, 2025 View all Gospel Reflection
“My child, conduct your affairs with humility” (Sirach 3:17)
Humility is one of those virtues that is hard to fully embrace. On the one hand it might not seem that agreeable to one’s self-esteem, and on the other hand it would seem a bit prideful to say how successful you are at being humble. Yet it is humility that God desires from each of us. As the Psalms relay to us “A burnt offering you would not accept… a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn.” (Psalm 51:18-19)
God does not need our sacrifices, nor will our sacrifices be sufficient to repay God for what he has done for us. Humility is the key to understanding our relationship with God. In the time of Jesus, and in fact in our time as well, it is very easy to come to believe that the success and wealth we accumulate here on earth are because of our own doing. While it may be true that God gave us gifts and talents to use while here on earth, those talents came from God Himself. Here we take on the role of that servant who was entrusted with the talents and either used them to make more for his master, versus the servant who buried his talents in the ground and did nothing with them out of fear. (cf. Matthew 25:14-30)
As we look at how Jesus was living during his public ministry, we see that he would welcome opportunities to dine with sinners as well as the local leaders. In today’s Gospel we see him entering the home of one of the leading Pharisees. What Jesus observes is how everyone was jockeying for positions of importance and honor. Jesus teaches them what seems to be a lesson in etiquette, but really it is a lesson of how humility can open the person to receive unexpected graces from God. We all too often allow ourselves to seek earthly success and short-change ourselves in the great blessing and bounty that the Lord wishes to bestow on us in heaven.
When we believe that we are able to accomplish all of our goals with our own means and talents, we close our hearts to be open to the grace of God. God has a plan for each of us. And while that plan involves the gifts and talents he has given to us, it more importantly involves our ability to be open to His power and grace as we move about our daily lives. Take for example the Blessed Virgin Mary. She believed that God’s plan for her was to be united to Him in prayer. In fact, she was surprised when the Angel Gabriel revealed that she would be the mother of the Messiah. Her response, her “yes” allowed God to enter into her life in an even deeper way. Her humility allowed God to work wonders. Our Lady recognized this when she proclaimed “he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; … He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.” (Luke 1:48-49,51-52)
So, as we go forth this week, we are invited to reflect on how to we receive the things the Lord God puts into our life? We should take to heart the words from Sirach that exhort us “Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.” (Sirach 3:18)
