Homily For The 25th Sunday In The Ordinary Time Of The Year B
“You will never be happy if your happiness depends on getting solely what you want. Change the focus. Get a new center. Will what God wills, and your joy no man shall take from you.” Fulton Sheen
Sunday Readings
“The first end I propose in our daily work is to do the Will of God; secondly, to do it in the manner He wills it; and thirdly, to do it because it is His will”— St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
My Dearest Friends in Christ
Welcome to another moment of reflection on the enduring Word of God. If you desire to be great, seek the way of suffering, sacrifice, and service. It is in doing God’s Will that true greatness is achieved.
Are you among those who desire recognition and to be great and influential in society? Behind the motives of many who desire greatness are nothing but selfish ambitions. St James in the second reading of today, warns us about selfish ambitions which breed conflicts, desperation, lack of self-contentment, rivalry, blackmail, and even war among us. “You will never be happy if your happiness depends on getting solely what you want. Change the focus. Get a new center. Will what God wills, and your joy no man shall take from you.” Fulton Sheen
Greatness is not being popular. Being great and being popular may sound synonymous but they are opposite. One can be great without necessarily being popular. So are you seeking to be popular? What is your definition of greatness? What are you doing to achieve it? Do you think your roadmap to greatness aligns with what Jesus is teaching us today? Today is another day to look inwardly and re-draw our roadmap to achieving greatness.
Greatness comes with a persistent and untiring effort to do good even when trials and tribulations compel us to do the opposite. It is that urge to choose the path of righteousness despite painful consequences.
Greatness is marked by that consistency in service to others even when we do not receive accolades or appreciation in return. It flows from that inner disposition to please God in all things. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom which echoes the Suffering Servant Song of Isaiah sees suffering as one of those marks that distinguish truly great people. Jesus by willingly accepting the path of suffering to redeem us exemplifies what true greatness entails. No greatness is achieved without paying the price of suffering and service to humanity. If greatness means being powerful, wealthy, or influential in society then it is baseless. Any definition of greatness outside the context of service and sacrifice is devoid of meaning. This is what St. Catherine of Sienna has in mind when she says, “Nothing great is ever achieved without enduring much.” Most people that we call great in our world are people who suffered and sacrificed for their people and they are not just influential nor people in positions of authority.
In today’s world of social media, it is disappointing to see the many immoral things people do just to become influential. We have to remind ourselves that it is in sincerely serving others with creative, entertaining, and educative content that God can bless us and make us truly influential and great people.
Today, Jesus gives us a glimpse of what walking the path of greatness implies: welcoming and serving the vulnerable in our midst, the defenseless children, the despairing poor, the mentally ill, and the marginalized. Jesus also teaches His apostles who had a biased understanding of greatness, that child-like humility and selfless service are qualities that make one great in the eyes of God. In other words, greatness, in Jesus’ view, is found in our willingness to accept welcome and serve those who are considered unacceptable because of class, color, religion, lack of wealth, or culture. We must welcome people the way a child welcomes them before he is taught discrimination. If we are to be truly great, we must be ready to accept four challenges: (1) to put ourselves last, (2) to be the servant of all, (3) to receive the most insignificant human beings with love, and (4) to expect nothing in return.
Truly great people are those who have cultivated the virtue of humility and render humble service to anyone irrespective of rank or social status. We need to practice humility in our thoughts, words and actions to achieve greatness. “Learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart.” “What is the essential thing in the religion and discipline of Jesus Christ?”, St. Augustine asks, and then responds, “I shall reply, first humility, second humility, and third humility.“ We should not seek recognition and recompense for the service we do for Christ and the Church as parents, teachers, pastors, or other roles. Trusting faith resulting from true humility is essential for all corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Since children reflect the innocence, purity, simplicity, and tenderness of our Lord, and since they are given the protection of a guardian angel, we are to love them, train them and take care not to give scandal to them. We need to try to treat everyone with love and respect because “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life” (St. Basil), CCC # 336.
In this Mass let us pray for the true spirit of service and an attitude of love for those around us. May the Holy Spirit help us to become truly great through humble and selfless service.
I keep you and your family always in my prayers.
Arm yourself with prayer rather than a sword; wear humility rather than fine clothes.”– St. Dominic
