Want to get ahead in God’s kingdom? Take the back seat.
This Sunday’s readings remind us that real honor comes not from seeking the spotlight, but from stepping aside. Whether you're at a banquet, on the golf course, or in your own heart, humility is the hidden hero of the spiritual life.
Here’s your All Set summary for the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time:
- Sirach 3 teaches that humility draws favor more surely than any boast. When we walk humbly, God draws near—and wisdom flows like water into thirsty ground (Sirach 3:17-20).
- Hebrews 12 reminds us we’re not trembling at Mount Sinai anymore. We’re gathered joyfully at Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem. It’s not about fear—it’s about communion with angels, saints, and Jesus, our mediator.
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Luke 14, Jesus drops a double-parable punch:
- Don’t chase places of honor let the host (God!) call you higher.
- Don’t invite only the people who can repay you invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind. That’s the kind of guest list God throws parties for.
Fr. McCarthy unpacks this with wisdom and wit, pointing out that humility is the cure for both pride and despair. It's not about denying your gifts it's about recognizing they come from God, and using them in service of others. (Also: golf teams, sauna homilies, and broken thermometers may be involved.)
🎧 Listen or watch here:
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Why St. Thérèse? Because no one lived the “take the lowest seat” Gospel better than the Little Flower. Her “little way” is humility in action.
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Who’s someone in your life who quietly chooses the lower place?
