Sermon Tone Analysis

Title

The Root of Humility

Outline

“I am the greatest” shouts the pagan king

He is, of course, a priest-king, a god-king

“You are the greatest,” chant his followers, all sycophants in that moment, but all thinking of how they can take their own advantage of that greatness.

They do profess love and loyalty, but if they saw him totter they would eagerly pull him down if they could climb over his body to ascend themselves

That is a parable of our society, of past powerful leaders, of some quite modern political leaders, of business tycoons, of scholarly hierarchies, and, yes, of the leaders of some churches as described in, among other books, Celebrities for Jesus.

All have, at least outwardly, a positive self-concept, solid ego strength, and self-confidence.

All lack, although they may use the proper expressions in public, the virtue of humility.

What is humility that it is so often found lacking?

Nietsche would call it “slave morality” yet many recognize it is true that it at least should be faked, agreeing with Sirach, “conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.”

That is often recognized even if one is not interested in, “Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find mercy in the sight of God.”

Humility is the recognition of one’s place in the scheme of things, including that one is dependent, that one has received rather than produced or earned one’s outward prowess.

Because I knew that I had not chosen but had been called by God into biblical studies and he had opened door after door for me - it was not my skill - I had the basis for humility.

Then, by God’s grace and enlightenment, I recognized and appreciated those far beyond me, and I was not tempted to believe what others said about me, but would shake my head in disbelief.

Humility is secondly the realistic recognition of the gifts, abilities, and circumstances that God has given, for living in denial of such goods and graces is also a denial of God’s sovereign decisions and call.

If one is humble one knows where one stands and one is not tempted to climb too high: “What is too sublime for you, do not seek; do not reach into things that are hidden from you.”

Jesus could see through human pretensions

He saw through the pretentiousness of trying to find the most honorable place at a banquet (in an honor-shame society) like trying to sit close enough to the honored guest at a conference so as to be seen with them or perhaps even converse with him or her.

“You are setting yourself up for a fall,” says Jesus. “You are not seeing reality.”

I think instead of the Chicago Baptist pastor Roland Brown who wanted to learn from experts on prayer who came to the city, so he offered to drive them where they needed to go.

No one saw this, but in taking the humble place he learned and became a man of prayer great in God’s eyes, I am sure, but almost unknown otherwise.

He knew the reality of what Jesus said, “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus goes on to say that one should humble oneself when giving a dinner: “invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.”

Who would talk about such?

Would they not say one is daft?

(I did have an elder in a church I pastored who did literally follow that teaching) Maybe, but if your eyes are not on others but on trying to flow with the love of God, then you will know that God will repay you, not in this world, as is often the case, but “you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

And that leads to how we gain humility, which is by having one’s eyes in the right place

Look up, for “you have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering, and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect, and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel.”

You do not sense pride in Dante in the Paradiso.

You will not have problems with humility if, instead of evaluating oneself against fellow human beings one meditates on where one is headed.

At one time I held an early Eucharist weekly in the back chapel of a church in St Stephen, NB.

There, on the wall, was a painting of a priest approaching the altar between two young servers who were kneeling.

There was no large congregation to be seen.

But in the air around the chancel were saints and angels.

Just realize that one is often in the company of such witnesses and one will be humbled.

Realize that God himself is there and you may be reduced to putty.

It is all about where your eyes are.

My prayers before mass are critical, as is prayer before writing a homily or anything else.

We usually see nothing, but the saints and angels are here.

They are also standing around your classrooms.

Keep your eyes lifted up.

With Frank Laubach work of keeping conscious of the presence of God and his saints.

The more you succeed in this consciousness, the less you will have to work on humility - it will be natural, for you have seen the standard and you automatically evaluate yourself, the world and all in it properly and you will realize that it is his love and grace that has you standing and walking towards him, while so much around you is already starting to fade into nothingness.

Readings

FIRST READING

Sirach 3:17–18, 20, 28–29

17 My son, conduct your affairs with humility,

and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.

18 Humble yourself the more, the greater you are,

and you will find mercy in the sight of God.

21 What is too sublime for you, do not seek;

do not reach into things that are hidden from you.

29 The mind of the wise appreciates proverbs,

and the ear that listens to wisdom rejoices.

30 As water quenches a flaming fire,

so almsgiving atones for sins.

RESPONSE

Psalm 68:11b

11 Your creatures dwelt in it;

you will establish it in your goodness for the poor, O God.

PSALM

Psalm 68:4–7, 10–11

4 Then the just will be glad;

they will rejoice before God;

they will celebrate with great joy.

5 Sing to God, praise his name;

exalt the rider of the clouds.

Rejoice before him

whose name is the LORD.

6 Father of the fatherless, defender of widows—

God in his holy abode,

7 God gives a home to the forsaken,

who leads prisoners out to prosperity,

while rebels live in the desert.

10 You poured abundant rains, God,

your inheritance was weak and you repaired it.

11 Your creatures dwelt in it;

you will establish it in your goodness for the poor, O God.

SECOND READING

Hebrews 12:18–19, 22–24a

18 You have not approached that which could be touched and a blazing fire and gloomy darkness and storm 19 and a trumpet blast and a voice speaking words such that those who heard begged that no message be further addressed to them,

22 No, you have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering, 23 and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect, 24 and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Matthew 11:29ab

29  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.

GOSPEL

Luke 14:1, 7–14

1 On a sabbath he went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully.

7 He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.

8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor.

A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, 9 and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place.

10 Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’

Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.

11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

12 Then he said to the host who invited him, “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.

13 Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; 14 blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.

For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Notes