Happy Labor Day!
Happy Labor Day!
Every human being should be respected because we are created in the image and likeness of God. Labor Day is the day we can take pride in what we do and show respect for others' excellent service. Pope Francis pointed out, "Work is fundamental to the dignity of a person. It gives one the ability to maintain oneself, one's family, and to contribute to the growth of one's own nation."
After Labor Day, schools reopen, we become more active, and society becomes more engaged and busy. It is an opportunity for us to pray for each one of us, our labor, and whatever field we are engaged in. It is also a special moment to pray for our children and youth as they return to school and college. That’s their labor; studying well prepares them for the future. Let us pray for them, their families, and teachers. Soon we will be starting our faith formation program, and especially, we pray for catechists and families on Catechetical Sunday, September 21.
This Sunday's readings warn us against all forms of pride and self-glorification. I read an interesting story about Don Shula, the coach of the Miami Dolphins. He was vacationing with his family in a small town in northern Maine. One afternoon, it was raining. So, Shula, his wife, and their five children decided to attend a matinee movie at the town’s only theater. When they arrived, only six other people were present. When Shula and his family walked in, all six people stood up and applauded. He waved and smiled. As Shula sat down, he turned to his wife and said, “We are thousand miles from Miami and they are giving me a standing ovation. They must get the Dolphins on television all the way up here.” Then a man came up to shake Don Shula’s hand. Shula beamed and said, “How did you know me?” The man replied, “Mister, I don’t know who you are. All I know is that just before you and your family walked into the theatre, the manager told us that unless four more people showed up, we wouldn’t have a movie today.”
There is a journey we all have to make, a pilgrimage we are all called to undertake, and that is the journey from pride to humility. In our story, there was a man whose reputation extended across the country not only as an excellent coach but also as an excellent human being. It was only natural for Shula to think that the man who came over to shake his hand knew who he was. When it turned out that he didn’t, Shula was the first to laugh at himself and shared with others.
The first reading from the book of Sirach reminds us of our call to be humble. Ben Sira may be warning his students against the dangers of Greek philosophy, which emphasized reason as the sole arbiter of truth. However, Jews recognized that faith played a significant role as well. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (159) states that faith and reason compliment each other and work in tandem. The virtue of humility has two aspects: being humble before God and opening our hearts and hands to others. We read in Matthew 23:12, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” The prayer before communion should exemplify our inner mode before God, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed” (Matthew 8:8).
In the Gospel, Jesus talks about a wedding banquet, using phrases such as "When you go to a banquet" and "When you give a banquet." Jesus offered a lesson on humility and charitable generosity without seeking either honor or reward. C.S. Lewis writes, "Humility is 'not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” Jesus instructs us to sit in the lowest place – a lesson of humility – greatness measured by the concern for the other.
The second reading from Hebrews compares the two covenants, of Moses and Christ. This passage presents an image of the heavenly liturgy. In contrast to the theophanies of God at Mount Sinai that so terrified the Israelites, the new covenant, in which the faithful participate at every Eucharist, is one of celebration and unity. Our weekly participation in the Mass is so vital to our spiritual lives that it is a Precept of the Church. Jesus humbled himself and offered on the Cross to bring us forgiveness of sins and salvation. The true humility we can see on the Cross. At the Mass, as the priest offers bread and wine, let us offer each one of us with our blessings and needs, strengths and weaknesses, and ask God to bless us and give us nourishment so we can grow in humility by opening our hearts to God and to one another.