Homily 22nd Sunday OT August 28, 2022
Homily presented by Franklin Fong, OFM
to St. Leander Chinese Catholic Community
All four readings today give us an appreciation of what it means to have humility.
The First reading from Sirach focuses our attention to humility as a virtue that attracts love and relationships, is about knowing yourself and living within your own capacities rather than pretending to know everything. Wisdom is about being humble enough to know how to listen to others. Each one should exercise his God-given talent with humility.
In the Psalm 68 we hear about how the poor, the homeless and the rejected are humble, and yet God is with them. God restores them to health and freedom.
The Second reading from Hebrews 12 we hear that we Christians approach heaven without fear and trembling. We listen to the Word of God who manifests himself to us. Gone are the days on Mt. Sinai when God spoke to the people with fearful signs. So, it is with ease and the quietness of our hearts, that we encounter God in his word and sacrament. And with serenity, we approach Christ.
The Gospel reading from Luke tells us about how Jesus teaches us to be unassuming, when invited, even if we come from high positions. Using the parable of the invited guests, we as a guest should not decide what we deserve. Let us give the host freedom to choose where we should be. So humility or prudence is the name of the game. Without prudence, we are prone to embarrassments. Also we give our hosts a hard time.
Frequently in the bible we will hear of a wedding reception, a lunch or dinner shared together when we will be gathered into the presence of God to discover the joy of living together in fellowship.
We may be surprised to find someone we least expect to be at the heavenly table receiving a place of honor.
Let’s reflect a moment on this and why we might be surprised. Humility is a recognition of our LIMITATIONS, not a denial of our WORTH ! More importantly, it is the recognition of the worth of others. Especially those whom the world rejects, overlooks and deems of little value.
There will be room for all at the ultimate banquet. No one needs to push or shove their way to the front of the line ! Jesus clearly reminds us that we must make room for each other, that this will be when the poor come into their kingdom. Jesus hopes that we will not meet there as strangers !
All will know of the happiness of the reunion of people who have already begun to share their lives on earth. Remember, it is Jesus who seats the servants at table and waits on them himself.
So to summarize:
The first reading teaches us to be humble, not seeking anything beyond our capacity.
The Psalm reminds us that God will be there for all who are humble.
The second reading teaches that humble Christians have a better destiny in a heavenly banquet!
The Gospel reading teaches us to be humble and not to expect reciprocation when doing a favor.
So, in the eucharist, we must behave like humble guests. Jesus is our host. He wants us to approach this banquet with humble hearts.
In the eucharist, everyone is invited, no one is left out. Even the lame, the crippled and the blind are invited. Our orderly celebration of the eucharist is in anticipation of the communion with God in heaven where no one will experience embarrassment.
Brothers and Sisters of the Chinese Catholic Community, that is the Good News for this 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time !
Alleluia, Alleluia !
Fr. Fong
(中文翻譯.原文以英文為準.)
2022 年 8 月 28 日, 常年期二十二主日
鄺神父主日道理中譯本
今天的三篇讀經和聖詠，都讓我們了解謙遜的意義。
第一篇讀經是德訓篇，把我們的注意力集中在謙遜上，這是一種吸引愛情和人際關係的美德，是關於了解自己，不是假裝在自己的生活氛圍內什麼都曉得，智慧就是要謙遜地知道，如何傾聽他人的意見，每個人都應該謙卑地運用上主賜予他的才能。
在聖詠第 68 篇，我們聽到窮苦人，無家可歸者和被拒絕的人如何謙卑，上主與他們同在，使他們恢復健康和自由。
第二篇讀經是希伯來書第十二章，我們看到我們基督徒朝著天國之路前進，沒有恐懼和顫抖，我們聆聽向我們顯現的天主聖言，上主在西乃山上用可怕的徵兆向人們說話的日子已一去不復返了，因此，我們可以輕鬆平靜地在他的話語和聖事中與上主相遇，我們平靜地接近基督。
在路加福音中，耶穌教導我們，即使我們身處高位，在被邀作客時應保持謙遜，耶穌用受邀客人作比喻，作為客人，我們不應決定我們應該得到什麼，應讓主人家自由選擇我們應得的待遇，所以"客隨主便";充分體驗了謙遜的真義，沒有這種精神，我們很容易會陷入尷尬，也會讓主人家很難受。
在聖經中，我們經常會看到婚宴、午餐或晚餐，藉著參與這些宴會，我們在上主跟前，體驗活在主內的喜悦。
或許我們會很驚訝，因為發現有某些人是我們不預期會在天國的筵席上出現的，讓我們思考一下，為何我們會感到驚訝？謙遜是我們對自身局限及不足的認知，而非否定我們的自身價值，更重要的，謙遜是對他人價值的認可，尤其是那被世界拒絕、忽視和被視為沒有價值的人。
在終極宴會中，每個人都有足夠空間，無需擠壓別人，而取得前排席位，耶穌清楚地提醒我們，我們必須為彼此騰出空間，在窮困的人進入天主的神國時，耶穌不希望我們，像踫上陌生人般在那時才與他們初遇。
所有人都知道，那些已開始了在世上與人分享生活的人，享有與主共融的福樂，但請記著，是耶穌讓僕人坐在餐桌旁，親自侍候他們。
總結一下今天學習到的教訓:
1/ 第一篇讀經教導我們要謙遜，不要追求我們能力範圍以外的東西。
2/ 聖詠提醒我們，上主就在謙卑自下的人中間。
3/ 第二篇讀經告訴我們，謙卑的基督徒，在天上的筵席中有更好的席位。
4/ 福音教導我們要謙遜，行善時不要期望得到回報。
所以在聖體聖事中，我們必須表現得像謙虛的客人，耶穌是我們的主人，他希望我們以謙卑的心來參加這個宴會。
在聖體聖事中，每個人都被邀請，沒有人被摒諸門外，即使是殘廢的，瘸腿的，瞎眼的，都在被邀之列。我們舉行的聖體聖事，是在天國與主共融的預像，在那裏沒有人會感到尷尬。
華人天主教會的弟兄姊妹們，這就是常年期二十二主日帶來的喜訊！
亞肋路亞，感謝天主！
