22nd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24
Luke 14:1. 7-14
"For everyone who
exalts himself will be humbled,
but the one who humbles himself will be exalted”
Last Sunday, we saw the sad fate of those outsiders. They thought the door could still be opened with their credentials. But perhaps by becoming victims of their own pride, heaven was closed to them forever. Hence, today's gospel invites us to meditate on the virtue of humility.
1. There are various concepts and understanding on humility. These different concepts may have been influenced by time and perhaps by the way how people look at things. Some of them still have strong bearing even until now. One concept is that humility means suppression of oneself. This may appear now as somewhat ridiculous, but certainly, there was a time when humility meant to bow and bow without complaining, without saying any word. It was that time when man had to follow every command, took every request and practically did everything just to be humble. --- Another concept is simplicity. Time came when humility was thought as co-equal with simplicity. Thus, although one could afford to buy a pair of shoes, he chose instead to have slippers. And it was for the sake of humility. To be humble was to be simple. - - - Still another concept is self-acceptance. Man realized in time that there was nothing wrong about being what he is. After all, it is just trying to be truthful to oneself. So, why should he deny himself of shoes when he could have them with his slippers? To be humble, then, was to be what a person is.
But man advances even more and conceives of humility as inseparable from his dignity. So humility becomes now associated with the concept of rights, human rights, basic rights. These rights overflow from his dignity and value as a person. Thus, he has to defend them at all cost. After all, he will just be pinning down pride and the proud who wants to trample his rights, his person, his very self. So, that would be his honest expression of humility. Otherwise, by tolerating the proud, he goes with pride!
See how man reasons out? He is really a thinker. But has he not realized too that by
"advancing" he may have just gone back to that old Hammurabic standard
of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a
tooth?
2. The fact that we have various concepts and understanding on humility suggests that it is not man's innate virtue. Even the Genesis account before the fall suggests that humility was not part of man's unblemished nature. In fact, what made our first parents fall was its opposite: pride! This may also be the reason why pagan wisdom does not recommend humility as an outstanding virtue that man must seek to have. Human nature simply does not confirm with it. Instead, those which can gain greatness are what make a person a real “vir” (man). Thus, they hail the intellectual virtue of wisdom, the psychological virtue of firmness and the physical virtue of strength. These are the ones which may answer man's natural longing and desire for honor, fame, power, glory. But humility? Never.
The truth of the matter can be confirmed by experience itself. Everyone wants to be recognized, to be honored, to be treated well. And note, this is not a mere want but also a need. Or put it in another way, no one wants to be unrecognized, to be dishonored, to be treated badly. These are real human feelings and urges. One may just be so hypocrite as to deny them. Psychology teaches us that all these are a manifestation of our ego. There will always be that self - whatever we may call it – which consciously or unconsciously hungers for human considerations or angers when denied of them.
Ultimately, therefore, we discover that humility is a very typical Christian virtue. Of course, we pose no disagreement whatsoever with the different notions about humility. After all, they are a product of man's earnest desire to understand it. But since it is a Christian virtue, it would seem that no authentic understanding about it may be possible unless and until we go back to the original source of this teaching.
3. Christ teaches on humility. But as he gives strong pointers about it in today's parable, we must be clear from the start that these pointers can only be understood in the light of Christ's own life. The parable offers us at least two concepts of humility.
a. Humility means "taking the lowest
place." "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do
not recline at table in the place of honor…Rather, take the lowest place.”
The scene is not unfamiliar or typically Palestinian. We can observe this right
at our own wedding banquets. While the presidential table is the place
of honor, the lowest place is for the common folks where nobody minds whether
somebody entertains them or not. Christ seems to be direct with his point.
Humility cannot go along with the place of honor and the desire
that accompanies it. Humility is to do away with both. It is staying and be
content in staying in the common place. It is to get rid with any temptation for
recognition. It is taming one's desire for special treatment. Now, this is quite
harsh and we make other reasoning just to justify our silent thirst to be
honored and recognized. But this is practically the point. This silent thirst
for honor is incompatible with humility. And to take the place of honor is
simply to give way to that desire. Thus, when you are invited, take the lowest place.
b. Humility means "giving to someone who cannot give in return.” Here, humility is understood in terms of its reward. The point is clear. The reward of humility can never be sought in this life, or better, must not be sought in this life. And there seems to be one evident reason for this: no one can ever judge that somebody around is humble. Only the eyes of heaven can perfectly read a truly humble heart. Thus, once one gives in lieu of any return, we are one hundred percent and one sure that he does it for self-gratification, and this defeats humility. "Invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.” Nobody seems to have done this. If ever there was, he did it before the camera and the newsmen. But in that case, he already gets his repayment and the virtue is gone. So, the desire for reward in this life spoils the sacredness of the virtue. In fact, the mere thought that one is humble destroys the very virtue he claims to have. Again, only God knows, and he alone can justly reward.
A familiar old story goes that a Capuchin began his sermon by saying: "Humility is a difficult virtue. But thanks be to God, I got it!” And there was a bold laughter at the congregation. In contrast to this, St. Therese reminds: "Be careful. Humility is too difficult a virtue. The moment you think you have it, it is precisely then that you lose it."