St. Mary's Catholic Church of Tomahawk, WI

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

We are in the twenty second ordinary Sunday of year C. The first reading emphasizes the role of humility in pursuing wisdom. It presents the paradox of being greater by means of humbling oneself. Wisdom is knowing one’s limitations, thereby seeing and accepting reality more readily. In being humble, one avoids stretching oneself beyond one’s capabilities. Let us try to pursue wisdom through humility.

In the second reading, the covenant established in the OT at Mount Sinai is juxtaposed with the covenant established in the NT by Jesus on the cross. When we recognize God as the Judge of all, our commitment to the new covenant and living as Catholics reassures us of a positive outcome to our judgement. Our Lord Jesus is our mediator in the presence of God who pours out His great mercy for our salvation.

In the Gospel the Lord highlights the virtue of humility. He notes that those who strive to claim places of honor lack humility and thus wisdom. Choosing to avoid embarrassment in public reflects positively on our social awareness. Yet one should be wary of false humility, which is choosing a lower seat with an expectation of being moved to a higher position. Thus Jesus encourages not to have focus on those who seek social status but rather to focus on those who cannot repay us. Thus on their behalf God will reward us, not earthly, but with spiritual and heavenly reward.

Fr. Aloysius Royan Anthony