THE NEW COVENANT WITH THE HUMBLE AND LOWLY
Blessed 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time to you. Hope your week that has just passed was one that was filled with wonderful opportunities for you to proclaim the love & mercy of God to others & so welcome them into the Kingdom (based on last Sunday’s reflection).
This Sunday’s readings focus our attention on the New Covenant with God & His people, and with Jesus as the mediator & the one who brings this into completeness (cf Hebrews 12:24 from our 2nd Reading). By the death of Jesus & the shedding of His blood on the cross, Jesus saves us who believe in Him & profess Him as Lord & brings us into this new covenantal relationship with God. What a wonderful privilege for us who have redeemed by Christ – we are all gathered into the heavenly Jerusalem & we are all a “‘firstborn son’ & a citizen of heaven” (cf Hebrews 12:23 – from our 2nd Reading).
Who are the people who enter in this new covenant? What are they like? Our 1st Reading from Ecclesiasticus (or Sirach) 3:17-20, 28-29 gives us one main trait – Humility! And Jesus, in today’s Gospel of Luke 14:1, 7-14, reminds us that “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the man who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)
The Response in our Responsorial Psalm today from Psalm 68 Verse 11 reinforces the loving care God has for those who are lowly, humble & poor. “In your goodness, O God, you prepared a home for the poor.” I truly treasure this verse & the prior one in Verse 10 which states “You poured down, O God, a generous rain: when your people were starved you gave them new life.” Why? Because in the face of my drought, famine, disease, disappointment & failure, God never fails to heal, save & restore life, & His grace & generous provision is all I need (cf 2 Corinthians 12:9).
The Bible is replete with examples of the Lord’s abundant provision & preferential love for the humble, poor, lowly, marginalized & oppressed – the anawim who depend totally on God for their lives. Consider Moses, the humblest man on earth, who spoke to God face to face, as with a friend. Or David, a humble shepherd after God’s heart whom God raised up as King of Israel. How about the apostles Peter & Andrew, James & John – lowly & uneducated fisherman whom Jesus chose to become fishers of men & to build His Church? We can’t overlook the example of our Blessed Mother Mary, who considered herself the lowly handmaid of the Lord (cf Luke 1:38) & who always magnified the Lord, who looked on her lowliness (cf Luke 1:46, 48). And of course, Jesus himself, who though divine, emptied himself to become human & who humbled himself & became obedient, even unto death on the cross (cf Philippians 2:6-8).
So, what’s our response to the call to humility today? Frankly, it’s not easy. Societal norms & pressure compel many of us to strive to be Numero Uno (Number One), to trumpet our achievements, to highlight our wonderful travel, food & other pleasurable experiences on Social Media to gain “likes” & “followers”, & even to rest on our laurels & adopt an “entitlement mentality” with the notion that we deserve the adulation, praises, pomp & glamour, since we have ‘made it’ & are perceived successful beyond our wildest dreams.
I don’t mean to offend anyone with the above statements. And let me assure you that this is not a ‘holier-than-thou’ commentary. Because the truth is, I too am at times caught up in this trap of self-promotion that reveals my own measure of pride & lack of humility. So now, to give myself a reality check, I have just taken a deep breath, whispered “Speak Lord, your servant is listening” & asked Jesus what He is saying to me right now. Could these also be what He’s saying to you too? “Enter by the narrow gate”? “Renounce yourself, take up your cross & follow me”? “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is kingdom of heaven”? “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled but whoever humbles himself will be exalted”? “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”?
So, brothers & sisters in the Lord, let’s continue to stay open to the voice of Jesus & allow Him to lead & guide us forward this coming week.
I’d like to end by sharing this song I really love, titled “Complete” by the Christian Group Parachute Band. It speaks volumes to me about my poor, weak & lowly condition, coming to Jesus with humility, surrendering myself to His will, begging Him to restore & change me, & affirming that I will only be complete & lack nothing in Him, Jesus Christ my Lord!
https://youtu.be/XEUztyAdqGY?si=iXTi2WumjTgYmaKb
Article by Damian Boon, HFC Blog Team Lead