Deacon Larry

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sir 3: 27-18, 20, 28-29: 6-9; Heb 12: 18-19, 22-241; Luke 14: 1, 7-14

Dc. Larry Brockman

True Humility engenders Happiness.  That is the essence of what our readings tell us today.   

First, let me tell you about two truly humble people-  Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig von Beethoven!  I’ll bet that surprises you because today both of these famous composers are held in such high esteem that you might not think that they were humble in their days.  So let me explain.   

The fact is that some of Bach’s greatest music was written for the Catholic Mass.  That was his passion, writing music for religious settings.  And yet, Bach was a protestant, and so, his own church didn’t perform his greatest music- because there was no Mass.  Neither did the Catholics perform it- because Bach’s Mass music required an orchestra; but orchestras were forbidden in those days in the midst of a Mass; and so some of Bach’s greatest music was never even performed until after he died.  Similarly, Beethoven’s greatest music was written for the piano, an instrument that was not readily available in his day.  And so 30 of his 32 piano sonatas were not performed at all until after Beethoven’s death.  These men did not write their music to cater to the popular music of their day in order to gain riches or receive praise and honor.  Rather, they responded to the creativity that God blessed them with in the ways that God prompted them.  Their reward was not an earthly reward in their day.  That is true humility.   

Such humility can set us free as well.  Because we will not carry around unrealistic expectations of reward or recognition or status as we exercise our talents.  That is why Jesus advises folks to mix with the lowly rather than take a place of honor at the banquet.  When we do that, we are free of the burden of our expectations, and can relax and enjoy life- we can be happy.  After all, God gave us our talents, and God will see that our talents are properly rewarded- but in his way, not ours.   

Real happiness, it seems to me, comes from a feeling that we are in a right relationship with God not from recognition by others for the things we do.  And people who are truly humble recognize that it is not through their talent; but it is through the talent and inspiration that God gives them that they succeed.  What makes them happy is using their talents for God’s purpose.  That will engender real joy and happiness, because it implies mutual recognition of a right relationship with God and that kind of joy carries over into eternity.   

How can we become truly humble and experience the happiness that goes with it?  Well, the first problem that we have as humans with all of this, is obtaining true humility.  How can we do that- to learn to be truly humble?  First and foremost we need to pray, the kind of prayer that is a two way communication with God; the kind of prayer that helps us to acknowledge God’s greatness and our dependence on Him; and the kind of prayer that helps us to feel inspired to do something, knowing that God will be there helping us along.   

Second, we need to stop centering our thought processes and actions on ourselves.  That means we should cool it with talking about ourselves; and be open to what is going on with our neighbors.  So, the next time you get with your neighbor- make it a habit to listen more and talk less!   

And lastly, we need to be proactive in serving others with our talents rather than using our talents for our own benefit.  This is one of the things Jesus recommended in the Gospel today.  Hold a celebration with those who can’t repay you, rather than holding one with your friends, from whom you can expect to return the favor.  Such kindness frees you of expectations, and gives you a sense of elation in raising other’s spirits.  All these things help to make us truly humble.   

But there is another problem we have with this whole idea of humility and happiness- that’s the Happiness part.  Perhaps it’s because we are not really sure of what true joy and happiness is.  I think it is easy to confuse pleasure with happiness.  But pleasure is short lived and passing; it is more physical and less spiritual.   Happiness is long lived; it is more spiritual and less physical.  Listen to what the second reading has to say about happiness.  There Paul contrasts the fear and anxiety of the people who followed Moses to Mount Zion as they lived the Exodus experience here in the flesh with the joy and happiness that those who enter the heavenly Jerusalem, a symbol of the Kingdom of God, will experience.  Only when we enter the Kingdom of God will we be joined with God and his angels and the spirits of the just.  Only when we enter the Kingdom will our status and position not matter.  The only thing that will matter; the only thing that will bring us happiness; will be our Communion with the Saints in the presence of their God.  True humility leads us into that kind of happiness

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