Homily for the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C):



Introduction 

A man was invited to a wedding but decided to sit right in the front row at the main table, where the important guests were seated. When the host arrived, he asked him to move to the back of the hall because those seats were reserved. Embarrassed, the man had to stand up and walk past everyone to the last table. After that, he told his friends, “Next time I’ll sit at the back so that, maybe, they’ll call me forward.”

We laugh at this, but Jesus uses a very similar story in today’s Gospel to teach us about humility and the right way to live in God’s presence.

The Word of God

  • First Reading: Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29
    The wise man says, “Conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.” God favors the humble, and He resists the proud.

  • Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 68
    God is described as the protector of the lowly: “God gives a home to the forsaken; he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.”

  • Second Reading: Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24
    The contrast is between Mount Sinai (fear, thunder, and trembling) and Mount Zion (the city of the living God, filled with grace). We are called not to a religion of fear, but to a community of mercy, humility, and hope.

  • Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-14
    Jesus teaches us through the parable of the wedding banquet:

    • Do not seek the highest place; let God raise you up.

    • True hospitality is shown not by inviting those who can repay, but by welcoming the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.

Connection of the Readings

All the readings today highlight humility as the gateway to true greatness in God’s Kingdom. Sirach teaches humility as wisdom. Hebrews presents the humble approach to God’s holy mountain. Jesus applies humility practically: choose the lowest place and serve those who cannot repay you.

Reflection Questions

  1. Do I sometimes seek recognition, praise, or the best seat in life?

  2. How do I treat those who cannot benefit me in return?

  3. Do I live my faith in humility and simplicity, trusting God to lift me up?

Implications for Daily Living (Jubilee Year & Synod on Synodality)

  • In this Jubilee Year of Hope, humility calls us to become pilgrims of hope, walking with others, especially the poor and forgotten.

  • The Synod on Synodality reminds us: the Church is not a place of privilege for a few, but a home where everyone has a seat at the table. We must listen to the voices of the small, the poor, and the excluded.

Inspiration / Motivation

Humility does not mean thinking less of ourselves; it means thinking of ourselves less and putting others first. When we humble ourselves, God Himself becomes our exaltation.

Quote

“Humility is truth.” — St. Teresa of Ávila

Final Thoughts

In a world that chases recognition and applause, Jesus teaches us to choose the hidden path of humility. At God’s banquet, the last will be first, and the humble will be exalted.

Conclusion & Prayer

Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, You humbled Yourself to take the lowest place at the table of humanity, even to the Cross. Teach us humility in our daily lives—at home, at work, in our communities. Make us generous toward those who cannot repay us, and may we one day hear You say, “Friend, move higher.” Amen. 

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