We cannot please God unless we are humble (HOMILY FOR THE 31ST SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C

Homily for the 31st Sunday in the ordinary time, year C

Wisdom 11:22-12:2; Ps.145; 2Thess.1:11-2:2; Luke 19:1-10

Theme: We cannot please God unless we are humble

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. It is the act of a great man always willing to be little.

In the gospel reading of last Sunday, Jesus told a parable of how two men prayed differently in the temple; one was proud, the other was humble. In the gospel reading of yesterday, Jesus went to dine in the house of the ruler of the Pharisees and watched how invitees took places of honour. In these two gospels, Jesus taught on humility and ended his teaching as follows: for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. In today’s gospel, Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus gave him another opportunity, this time, to practically teach on this all-important theme of humility. We can neither please God nor attract his attention unless we are humble.

The first reading of today describes the graciousness of God. All things exist and persist through the grace of God. Without God, nothing is and nothing remains. More so, God in his mercy, is always attracting sinful humanity to Himself so that no one is ever lost but that through Him, all might be saved. This first reading portrays the ever loving disposition of God. The theme of humility comes up as the key to accessing the ever merciful and loving disposition of God. To be humble means to realize our need of God and the indispensable role He plays in our lives. To be humble is to understand our nothingness in the presence of God. To be humble is to know that our endowments are nothing but gifts from God. To be humble is to desire God and do all that it takes to meet this desire.

In the gospel reading, Zacchaeus was humanly and rightly perceived as a Chief tax collector; a title synonymous with grievous sinner. But Jesus perceived him differently; Jesus saw him as a humble man. Zacchaeus was a rich man whom we can imagine had the good things of life. He had heard so much about Jesus and wanted to see Him. His desire to see Jesus was not to flaunt his wealth before Jesus. His desire to see Jesus was not to test him as others had done. Underneath Zacchaeus desire to see Jesus was a feeling that his wealth and social standing was nothing in the presence of this Jesus he had heard so much about. He perceived something in Jesus that his money could not buy nor intimidate.

Infact, Zacchaeus admitted even before meeting Jesus that he is poor in the presence of God. A big man will only struggle to see a person he knows is bigger than he is. Zacchaeus was ready to do anything just to see Jesus. Maybe, he saw himself as too sinful to have a chat with Jesus. So, the rich and influential Zacchaeus decided to climb a sycamore tree to see Jesus as he passed by. Zacchaeus knew that such action would make him a thing of mockery; worse still, as he was perceived to be a sinner, the mockery will be intense. Yet, Zacchaeus did not care about the humiliation. For him, it was a price worth paying to see Jesus.

Jesus passed by as expected; but we are not told that Zacchaeus did anything to call Jesus’ attention, such as greeting from the tree; yet Jesus noticed him and gave him unexpected attention and honour. Zacchaeus must have truly been a public sinner but there is no greater indication for conversion than the uncommon humility he portrayed. Jesus saw in Zacchaeus’ humility, a cry for conversion; a hunger for salvation. This remains the interpretation of every act of true humility. Humility of the heart is an invitation that Jesus never turns down.

From the action of Zacchaeus today, the first question we need to ask ourselves is: are we struggling to see Jesus or are we seeing him only when it is convenient for us? What sacrifice do we make to keep up a daily prayer life? Are we amongst those who will abandon the idea of going to Church on a Sunday if it dares to rain on Sunday morning or the evening before? How well did we struggle to pray our rosary well in this ending month of October? Are we going to struggle to attend Mass on Tuesday and Wednesday this week: the solemnity of All Saints and the commemoration of the Faithful departed respectively? Are we struggling to see Christ in everyone that we meet? Are we struggling each day to overcome sinful habits and occasions of sins? Are we struggling to maintain the Christian identity everywhere we go and in everything we do? Are struggling to be truthful in our words, actions and positions? If we are not struggling to keep the commandments, then we can best be described as Proud.

As Jesus went into the house of Zacchaeus, people gossiped about Jesus that he has gone into the house of a sinner. They had no eyes and hearts to see the humility of Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus said that he will give half of his goods to the poor, and restore fourfold anything he had defrauded anyone of. Charity and Restitution are like the hinges of true conversion. Zacchaeus converted with more than mere words. He said “I am sorry” is the most practicable way. His action justified Jesus’ presence in his house. Today, many of us are rather causing others to ask God questions because of the negative/awful experiences they’ve had with us. Many of us, because we claim to be Christians, have constituted scandal to others. The effect of the damage we have done would have been less if we never called ourselves Christians. The festive season is fast approaching and it is unlocking the greed, maliciousness and arrogance of some so-called Christians.

Admittedly, the festive season comes with so much tension. But then, let us learn humility from Zacchaeus. Humility will teach us that those who leave everything in God’s hands, will always find God’s hands in everything. Do your best and leave the rest to God. When we humble ourselves for God to exalt us, we will surely rejoice in the words of the psalmist: I will bless your name forever, my king and my God.

Have a wonderful sunday