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 re...