Homily for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
Sirach 3:17-20, 28-29; Psalm 68; Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24; Luke 14:1, 7-14
The Way Up is Down!
Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today the Word of God speaks to us about one of the deepest virtues in the Christian life, a virtue that often goes against the grain of our human pride: humility. The Word of God teaches us a lesson that turns the wisdom of the world upside down. While the world tells us to push ourselves up, Jesus tells us: “The way up is down.” Down in humility, down in service, down in love for the poor and forgotten.
As Sirach reminds us: “The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself; then you will find favor with the Lord” (Sirach 3:18). And Jesus concludes in today’s Gospel: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11).
In a world that rewards power, prestige, and self-promotion, God reminds us that the way to greatness in His Kingdom is not through climbing higher, but through bending lower.
As we reflect on today’s readings, I wish to draw out three key lessons for our journey of faith:
- Humility opens us to God’s grace.
- True greatness is found in service, not in status.
- Generosity toward the poor and forgotten mirrors God’s own heart.
1. Humility opens us to God’s grace
The first reading from Sirach reminds us: “My child, conduct your affairs with humility and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.” (Sirach 3:17). The proud heart cannot receive because it is already full of itself. But the humble heart is like an open vessel—ready to be filled with God’s grace, wisdom, and blessing.
Pride closes the heart; humility opens it. As St. Augustine said: “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.” So, “Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.”
When we recognize that everything, we have is God’s gift, we live in gratitude, not entitlement. Jesus Himself teaches: “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart” (Matthew 11:29).
We live in a time where humility is often mistaken for weakness. Yet, humility is strength under control. It is the recognition that all we are and all we have comes from God. The higher a tree grows, the deeper its roots must go into the soil. Likewise, the higher we want to rise in holiness, the deeper we must root ourselves in humility.
2. True greatness is found in service, not in status
In the Gospel, Jesus notices how people scramble for the places of honor at a banquet. He uses the scene to teach that in God’s eyes, “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11).
We live in a culture where everyone wants to be “seen,” “known,” “recognized.” Social media thrives on likes, followers, and applause. But Jesus teaches us that God’s measure of greatness is not how high we climb, but how low we stoop to serve others.
In the Gospel, Jesus warns against scrambling for the best seats. Our worth is not in titles, positions, or applause. The Lord measures greatness by service: “Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant” (Mark 10:43).
St. Teresa of Calcutta once said: “If you are humble, nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are.”
Like Christ who washed His disciples’ feet, true greatness lies in stooping low to lift others up
3. Generosity toward the poor mirrors God’s own heart
The final teaching from today’s Gospel is striking. Jesus tells His host: “When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.” (Luke 14:13-14).
Here is the heart of Christian charity: to give not for reward or recognition, but out of love. God Himself gives to us freely, without asking anything in return. When we open our hearts and homes to the poor, the stranger, the forgotten, we reflect the generosity of God.
And Jesus promises: even if the poor cannot repay us, God Himself will repay us “at the resurrection of the righteous.” In other words, our hidden acts of love are not wasted; they are recorded in heaven.
Proverbs 19:17 assures us: “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” St. John Chrysostom said: “If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the church door, you will not find Him in the chalice.” When we stoop down to embrace the poor, we rise in God’s favor.
My dear friends, the Word of God today invites us to live differently in a world that values pride, prestige, and profit.
IF
- Humility makes space for God in our lives.
- Service is the true measure of greatness.
- Generosity to the poor reflects God’s own heart.
WHEN the world tells us to climb higher, REMEMBER Christ shows us another way. In God’s Kingdom, the way up is down:
- Down in humility – so that God can lift us up.
- Down in service – so that we may share in Christ’s greatness.
- Down in generosity – so that we may reflect the heart of the Father.
As we come to the Eucharistic table, let us remember we are not here because we are important, but because we are loved. May Christ, who humbled Himself to become our food, teach us to walk humbly, to serve joyfully, and to give generously. As we receive Him today, let us ask for grace to follow His path: the way up that begins by going down. Amen.
Have a splendid day, and week!
