22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

We hear in the Book of Sirach, "My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts. Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God" (3:17-18). Humility - putting God first and seeing things as they truly are - is something we need to choose each day and receive the grace to live out from God.

Saint John Marie Vianney, the Cure' of Ars, urged daily prayers for humility. He said, “We should daily ask God with our whole hearts for humility,” teaches St. John Vianney, “for the grace to know that we are nothing of ourselves, and that our corporal as well as our spiritual welfare proceeds from Him alone.” The call to humility goes hand in hand with the call of Saint John Paul II to "be not afraid."

It can be terrifying to think of ourselves less, but we should fear not. Through humility, we give up the temporary pleasures of putting ourselves first, and place ourselves before God instead.

After Mass recently, a mother in our parish reminded her son what the key to real "joy" is: Jesus, others, then yourself. Let us pray for the grace of humility. Let us support one another in love. Let us be not afraid to receive the grace from God to surrender completely to His loving care. Saint John Paul II, pray for us!