20211030 HUMILITY IN GRACE
30 October, 2021, Saturday, 30th Week, Ordinary Time
First reading |
Romans 11:1-2,11-12,25-29 © |
The Jews have not fallen for ever
Let me put a question: is it possible that God has rejected his people? Of course not. I, an Israelite, descended from Abraham through the tribe of Benjamin, could never agree that God had rejected his people, the people he chose specially long ago. Do you remember what scripture says of Elijah – how he complained to God about Israel’s behaviour? Let me put another question then: have the Jews fallen for ever, or have they just stumbled? Obviously they have not fallen for ever: their fall, though, has saved the pagans in a way the Jews may now well emulate. Think of the extent to which the world, the pagan world, has benefited from their fall and defection – then think how much more it will benefit from the conversion of them all. There is a hidden reason for all this, brothers, of which I do not want you to be ignorant, in case you think you know more than you do. One section of Israel has become blind, but this will last only until the whole pagan world has entered, and then after this the rest of Israel will be saved as well. As scripture says: The liberator will come from Zion, he will banish godlessness from Jacob. And this is the covenant I will make with them when I take their sins away.
The Jews are enemies of God only with regard to the Good News, and enemies only for your sake; but as the chosen people, they are still loved by God, loved for the sake of their ancestors. God never takes back his gifts or revokes his choice.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 93(94):12-15,17-18 © |
The Lord will not abandon his people.
Happy the man whom you teach, O Lord,
whom you train by means of your law;
to him you give peace in evil days.
The Lord will not abandon his people.
The Lord will not abandon his people
nor forsake those who are his own;
for judgement shall again be just
and all true hearts shall uphold it.
The Lord will not abandon his people.
If the Lord were not to help me,
I would soon go down into the silence.
When I think: ‘I have lost my foothold’;
your mercy, Lord, holds me up.
The Lord will not abandon his people.
Gospel Acclamation | cf.Col3:16a,17 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Let the message of Christ, in all its richness,
find a home with you;
through him give thanks to God the Father.
Alleluia!
Or: | Mt11:29 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Shoulder my yoke and learn from me,
says the Lord,
for I am gentle and humble in heart.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Luke 14:1,7-11 © |
Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled
Now on a sabbath day Jesus had gone for a meal to the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely. He then told the guests a parable, because he had noticed how they picked the places of honour. He said this, ‘When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take your seat in the place of honour. A more distinguished person than you may have been invited, and the person who invited you both may come and say, “Give up your place to this man.” And then, to your embarrassment, you would have to go and take the lowest place. No; when you are a guest, make your way to the lowest place and sit there, so that, when your host comes, he may say, “My friend, move up higher.” In that way, everyone with you at the table will see you honoured. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the man who humbles himself will be exalted.’
HUMILITY IN GRACE
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Rom 11:1-2, 11-12, 25-29; Ps 94:12-15,17-18; Lk 14:1,7-11]
In the gospel, Jesus told a parable of humility and gracious hospitality. Jesus, as usual, was always observant of the human heart and the human mind. He pays attention to the daily life of the ordinary person. All His parables are taken from daily life events and activities at home, in the fields, at sea and at meals. In this instance, He raised an attitude prevalent amongst us all. This is the question of honour and position in society. Many of us are very conscious of how we are ranked in society and in the world. We want to attain the highest honour and position in life because they give us power; and power not only boosts our ego but can also increase our wealth.
However, Jesus exhorts us to remain humble no matter what position we hold in society. We must never imagine ourselves to be greater than who we are, or conversely, lesser. In fact, we should just be ourselves, living out our identity and exercising the gifts that God has bestowed upon us, for the service of humanity. It is about exploring the full potential of our being so that we can expend and expand ourselves for the good of others. By so doing, the greatest reward and joy we have would be our fulfilment and self-realization. This is the reason, we should not be worried about our place in society, or the honours that the world bestows upon us. The greatest honour is what God bestows on us by giving us His gifts, and the second greatest honour is when we make full use of what has been given to us. Indeed, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the man who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Beyond this, we will never find peace and happiness in life. Those who seek places of honour will be embarrassed when they realize that they have over-estimated their position in society, like the person who picked the place of honour when he was invited for a wedding feast. Jesus said, “A more distinguished person than you may have been invited, and the person who invited you both may come and say, ‘Give up your place to this man.’ And then, to your embarrassment, you would have to go and take the lowest place.” Indeed, the book of Proverbs also warns us, “Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, ‘Come up here,’ than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.” (Prov 25:6f)
Rather, Jesus said, “No; when you are a guest, make your way to the lowest place and sit there, so that, when your host comes, he may say, ‘My friend, move up higher.’ In that way, everyone with you at the table will see you honoured.” In suggesting this approach, Jesus was not teaching us to pretend to be humble so that we could be honoured publicly. This would be false modesty, as in the case of many who, when praised for the work they did, decline the honour, not because they do not believe they had done well but so as to solicit more praises. Jesus is advocating that those who do not know their place in life, should take the lowest place and allow others to assign them the appropriate position and role they should assume in society.
By extension, our place and role in society is not because of our hard work alone but primarily because God has graced us according to the role He wants us to play in society and in His plan. St Paul underscores this point, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.” (1 Cor 12:4-7, 11) In a similar vein, he wrote, “each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.” (Eph 4:7, 11-13)
So there is no reason for us to boast. In fact, we should always remain humble when God chooses us for a position of leadership, or when He blesses us with both intellectual and emotional intelligence, skills, eloquence and opportunities. Who we are today is all due to the grace of God, the grace of those who provide us the means and resources to use our God-given talents. We should be grateful and humbled by His mercy and choice. But this is true not only when it comes to our place and role in society.
We should extend this principle to our relationship with the Jews, Non-Catholic Christians and non-Christians. St Paul in the first reading was mulling over with regret that his fellow Jews had rejected the gospel in spite of the fact that they were the chosen people of God. How could they not be saved when “God never takes back his gifts or revokes his choice”? He himself was a Jew and so were the Patriarchs and the prophets. They all belonged to the nation of Israel and were God’s chosen people. He said, “I, an Israelite, descended from Abraham through the tribe of Benjamin, could never agree that God had rejected his people, the people he chose specially long ago.”
So, too, for us who are Catholic. We must be careful never to fall into the same mistake of the Jews and some Christians who think that others are not saved simply because they are not baptized as Catholic or Christian. If the Jews, as the Chosen People of God, could ultimately be saved, this same principle can be applied to those who are not Catholic, or even Christian, as well. The truth is that with the revelation given by our Lord in the scriptures, God has no favourites. (Acts 10:34) St John says, “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” (1 Jn 3:1) Indeed, if the world fails to recognize their true identity, it is because they do not know God. But this does not exclude them from being children of God. Of the Jews, St Paul wrote, “The Jews are enemies of God only when with regard to the Good News, and enemies only for your sake; but as the chosen people, they are still loved by God, loved for the sake of their ancestors.”
This explains why the Constitution of the Church acknowledges the special place of the non-Catholic Christians who “share with us in prayer and other spiritual benefits. In some real way they are joined with us in the Holy Spirit, for to them too He gives His gifts and graces whereby He is operative among them with His sanctifying power.” Special mention is also made of the Jews, the Chosen People of God, who “remain most dear to God, for God does not repent of the gifts. But the plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator. In the first place amongst these there are the Muslims. Nor is God far distant from those who in shadows and images seek the unknown God, for it is He who gives to all men life and breath and all things, and as Saviour wills that all men be saved.” (LG 15,16)
What determines our salvation is not whether we belong to a particular race or even a religion, but whether we walk the ways of God. So, whether we are Jew or Catholic or Christian, we must be forewarned. “They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.” (Rom 11:20-22) In the final analysis it is how we cooperate with the grace of God which we have received. If we in all humility recognize that everything is the grace of God, then we will cooperate in gratitude.
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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