Dear sisters and brothers,  Let us be humble always, to avoid embarrassment.  Fr. Cielo

1. Welcome to our Bible Study
22nd
Sunday in Ordinary Time C
28 August 2016
In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy
As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

2. 1st
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
favor with God.
 20 What is too sublime for you, seek not,
into things beyond your strength search
not.
 28 The mind of a sage appreciates
proverbs, and an attentive ear is the wise
man's joy. 29 Water quenches a flaming
fire, and alms atone for sins.

3. 1st
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
favor with God.
 20 What is too sublime for you, seek not,
into things beyond your strength search
not.
 28 The mind of a sage appreciates
proverbs, and an attentive ear is the wise
man's joy. 29 Water quenches a flaming
fire, and alms atone for sins.
The focus is on humility.

4. 1st
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 favor with God.
 20 What is too
sublime for you, seek
not, into things
beyond your strength
search not.
 28 The mind of a
sage appreciates
proverbs, and an
attentive ear is the
wise man's joy. 29
Water quenches a
flaming fire, and
alms atone for sins.
Commentary
 The text comes from the wisdom literature.
The book is one of the deuterocanonical
books of the OT.
 V.17 exhorts the ordinary person to
be humble in doing his/her initiatives.
 V.17b gives the reason why: you will
be more loved (by God or by the people)
 Humility makes one more loveable.
 A humble active person is more
loveable than the giver of gifts
(benefactor / philantrophist).
 A giver of gifts may be loved because
he/she gives gifts. But he/she is not
loved as much as a humble person
who works for the good of others.
 V.18 encourages the person not just
to be humble, but to be more humble.
 V.18b gives the reasons why: the
person becomes greater, he/she will
find favor with God. (will be blessed)

5. 1st
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 favor with God.
 20 What is too
sublime for you, seek
not, into things
beyond your strength
search not.
 28 The mind of a
sage appreciates
proverbs, and an
attentive ear is the
wise man's joy. 29
Water quenches a
flaming fire, and alms
atone for sins.
 V.20 is another exhortation in parallel form:
seek not what is too sublime // search not
into things beyond your strength.
 V.20 says “do not become too ambitious.”
Don’t handle things beyond your capacity,
intelligence, etc. Know yourself.
 Why? The reading does not give a reason.
We have to figure it out: Not to be
frustrated, disappointed probably.
 V.28 talks about the happiness of a sage //
wise man. His happiness is proverbs (food
for thought) and attentive ear (listening
ear).
 V.29 seems to be related with humility.
Water (sign of humility) put down flaming
fire (ambition, arrogance).
 The movement of water is to go down,
while that of fire is to go up.
 Alms are effective means to atone for sins.
Alms (given with devotion) is an act of
humility.
 Act of charity is in no way discouraged in
the passage.

6. Reflections on the 1st
reading
 Each one should exercise his God-given talent
with humility.
 A humble doer is preferred to a person who
wants to win friends by dole outs.
 Humility is a virtue that attracts love and
relationship.
 Humility is knowing oneself and functioning
within one’s own capacity.
 Humility does not pretend to know, what
he/she does not know. (not charlatan)
 You cannot win friends by being showy,
ambitious, arrogant and pretentious.
 You are wise if you are humble and know how
to listen. (v.28)

7. Responsorial Ps. 68:4-5,6-7,10-11
 R. (cf. 11b) God, in your goodness, you have made a
home for the poor.
 4 The just rejoice and exult before God;
they are glad and rejoice.
5 Sing to God, chant praise to his name;
whose name is the LORD.
 6 The father of orphans and the defender of widows
is God in his holy dwelling.
7 God gives a home to the forsaken;
he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.
 10 A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your
inheritance;
you restored the land when it languished;
your flock settled in it;
11 in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the needy.

8. Responsorial Ps. 68:4-5,6-7,10-11
 R. (cf. 11b) God, in your
goodness, you have made a
home for the poor.
 4 The just rejoice and exult before
God; they are glad and rejoice.
5 Sing to God, chant praise to his
name; whose name is the LORD.
 6 The father of orphans and the
defender of widows
is God in his holy dwelling.
7 God gives a home to the forsaken;
he leads forth prisoners to
prosperity.
 10 A bountiful rain you showered
down, O God, upon your inheritance;
you restored the land when it
languished; your flock settled in it;
11 in your goodness, O God, you
provided it for the needy.
Commentary
 The psalm is classified as liturgical
psalm.
 His goodness is expressed in making
a home for the poor.
 In vv.4-5, the just (those who don’t
make people poor) celebrate the
goodness of the Lord. They are the
ones who can really praise God.
 V.6 acknowledges God as the father
of orphans (he adopts) and defender
of widows (defenseless, poor without
means of livelihood).
 V.7 acknowledges God as giving
shelter to the dejected and liberating
prisoners to earn a living.
 V.10 acknowledges God as a
generous God who restores the
productivity of the land
 V.11 acknowledges God as Provident
God.

9. Reflections on the Psalm
 The humble in the Psalm are the poor, the
homeless, and the rejected.
 It is God who takes care of them.
 The poor and the oppressed must not lose
heart, for God is with them.
 God can restore them to health and
freedom.
 Let us be just. Let us not make the lives of
the poor poorer. In this way, we can really
praise God.

10. 2nd
reading: Heb 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.

11. 2nd
reading: Heb 12:18-19,22-24a
Part I
 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.
Part II
 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.
The focus is on what the Christians approach.

12. Textual Context of Heb 12:18-
19,22-24a
 Heb 12,1-13 The Example of Jesus
 Heb 12,14-28 Warnings against Rejecting God’s Grace
 Heb 13,1-19 Service Well-Pleasing to God
 Heb 13,20-22 Benediction
 Heb 13,22-24 Final Exhortation and Greetings

13. 2nd
reading: Heb 12:18-19,22-24a
What the Christians have
not approached
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.
Commentary on the first part:
 Vv.18-19 recall of the exodus
event on Mt. Sinai.
 The Israelites approached God
on Mt. Sinai.
 There was theophany (manifestation
of God).
 blazing fire = lightning
 darkness = smoke
 trumpet blast = thunder
 God speaking = God whom the
Israelites feared to hear. They
were trembling.
 But the Israelites did not like to
hear God. Instead they assigned
Moses to do it for them.
 It is a terrible thing to encounter
the Lord with all the fire, smoke,
loud sounds and earth shaking.

14. 2nd
reading: Heb 12:18-19,22-24a
What the Christians have
approached
 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.
Commentary on the 2nd
part:
 Instead, we, Christians have
approached the following:
 the heavenly city of
Jerusalem (Mt. Zion), v.22
 The countless angels, v.22
 and assembly of the firstborn,
 God, v.23
 The spirits (souls) of the just,
v.23
 Jesus too is there, the
mediator of a new covenant,
 And the blood which is more
effective than that of Abel,
v.24
 We, Christians, are destined to
see a pleasant sight.
 We shall not be afraid to
encounter God.

15. Reflections on the 2nd
reading
 The reading assures that we Christians approach
heaven (city of God, heavenly Jerusalem).
 Without fear and trembling, we listen to the Word
of God who manifests himself to us.
 Gone are the days (on Mt. Sinai) when God spoke
to the people with fearful signs.
 With ease and the quietness of our hearts, we
encounter God in his word and sacrament.
 With serenity, we approach Christ.
 Do we experience God in our prayers?
 Do our prayers help us liberate ourselves from
unnecessary fears and anxieties?

16. Gospel reading: 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."

17. Gospel reading: Luke 14:1,7-14
 1 On a sabbath Jesus 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."
The focus is on what to do when invited/inviting.

18. Gospel reading: Luke 14:1,7-14
Setting (Sabbath, dining) Jesus being observed
 1 On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of
the leading Pharisees, and the people there were
observing him carefully.
Jesus observing
 7 He told a parable to those who had been invited,
noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at
the table.
The Advice to the Guest: Negative
 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.
The Positive Advice
 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."
A simple outline!

19. Advice to the host - +
 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."

20. Gospel reading: Luke 14:1,7-14
Setting (Sabbath, dining) Jesus being observed
 1 On a sabbath, Jesus went to dine at the home of one
of the leading Pharisees, and the people there (group of
Pharisees) were observing him carefully.
 The story is introduced by an important word “Sabbath.”
Here we would expect a controversy about the
“sabbath,” but the author does not follow it up. Instead,
he talks about choosing places where you will not be
embarrassed. Read the parable.
Jesus observing
 7 He told a parable to those who had been invited,
noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at
the table.
 Jesus the observed becomes the observer and he
teaches the guests. It is unbecoming of godly people to
choose places of honor.
Pay attention to the words in blue.

21. The Parable
 As a result, he gives fraternal advice.
The Advice to the Guests: Negative
 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.
 To recline at a banquet table is a big honor. But don’t
assign yourself to such a place. Wait to be seated.
Otherwise, you will be embarrassed.

22. The Positive Advice to the Guests
 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.“
 Mindfully and intentionally, go to the lowest place. There
is no lower place than the lowest.
 You gain respect and esteem from others by consciously
humbling yourself, not by thinking you are highly favored
by the host.
 Give your host the liberty / pleasure to promote /
upgrade you in the sight of others.

23. Advice to the host - +
 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.
 Jesus gives another unsolicited advice to the host.
 When inviting, break the custom / culture / cycle of
self-serving reciprocation.
 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.“
 Invite those who cannot reciprocate. This is
righteousness.
 You will be repaid in heaven.

24. Textual Context of Luke 14:1,7-14
 Luke 14,1-6 Jesus Heals the Man with Dropsy
 Luke 14,7-14 Humility and Hospitality
 Luke 14,15-24 Parable of the Great Dinner
 Luke 14,25-33 Cost of Discipleship
 Luke 14,34-35 The Simile of Salt
 Luke 15,1-7 The Parable of the Lost Sheep
 Luke 15,8-10 The Parable of the Lost Coin
 Luke 15,11-32 The Parable of the Lost Son

25. Reflections on the gospel reading
 In the gospel text, Jesus teaches us to be
unassuming, when invited, even if we come from high
positions.
 We should not decide what we deserve. We are just
guests. Let us give the host freedom to choose where
we should be.
 Humility (prudence) is the name of the game.
 Without prudence, we are prone to embarrassments.
Also we give our hosts a hard time.
 If we throw parties, let us remember the poor.
 We have to be crazy sometimes in order to follow the
outrageous advice of Jesus, which nobody is actually
doing.

26. Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm
 The first reading teaches us to be humble, not
seeking anything beyond our capacity.
 The psalm teaches that God takes care of the humble
(the poor, the orphans, widow, etc.).
 The second reading teaches that (humble) Christians
have a better destiny than the Israelite people.
 The gospel reading teaches us to be humble and not
to expect reciprocation when doing a favor.

27. How to develop your sharing / homily
 Relate your experience when you felt humiliated,
humbled, downgraded, defeated, demoted, abandoned
by your boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife or employer.
 Why did it happen?
 Along the way, something must have gone wrong.
 Maybe in the first place, you have been too confident
about yourself (masyadong believe sa sarili, masyadong
mataas ang tingin sa sarili). You have not listened well to
your boss.
 Maybe, you have been boasting all the time, thinking
you can manage by yourself.
 The readings talk about humility, being humble.

28.  The first reading explicitly advices achievers /
performers / real doers to do their projects
and tasks, and their initiatives with humility.
 Each one should know him/herself. He/she
must do only what he/she can do. He/she
should not pretend he/she knows more or
better.
 In the community, we should prefer a humble
servant to a benefactor giving dole outs.
 Better be a quiet worker than an arrogant
benefactor who will dictate later on.

29.  The gospel reading follows up the message of
the first reading.
 In the context of meals and wedding
banquets, Jesus boldly presents unsolicited
advice to guests and to the host.
 The guests, even if they are special guests,
should display some humility.
 They must not presume to be very special to
the host. The host may have a more special
guest whom you do not know.
 Each one should know his/her rightful place
in the community. You do not presume you
are “malakas” to the host or “kilala mo siya.”

30.  Another unsolicited advice, this time for the
host:
 The host should invite the poor, the crippled…
those who can’t pay back or invite back, to
free himself / herself from hidden or self-
serving agenda.
 The poor just come to eat without
“observing” the movements of Jesus.
 They are good guests. They have no hidden
agenda. They don’t attempt to occupy places
of honor.

31.  The second reading portrays the final
destiny of the Christians who have
exercised humility in all their endeavors.
 True and humble Christians are destined to
stay in the heavenly Jerusalem.
 There they enjoy the life of God, Jesus and
the angels in their heavenly banquet,
where there is no more problem with sitting
arrangement.
 Everyone will enjoy the presence of God,
each in his/her place of honor.
 We can attain heaven, if we exercise
humility here and now.

32.  In the eucharist, we must behave like
humble guests.
 Jesus is our host. He wants us to approach
this banquet with humble hearts.
 In the eucharist, everyone is invited, no
one is left out. Even the lame, the crippled
and the blind are invited.
 Our orderly celebration of the eucharist is
an anticipation of the communion with God
in heaven where no one will experience
embarrassment.

33. Our Context of Sin and Grace
 ArrogantArrogant
 ProudProud
 BoastfulBoastful
 HaughtyHaughty
 ShowyShowy
 Giving gifts forGiving gifts for
publicitypublicity
 Looks highly uponLooks highly upon
himself/herselfhimself/herself
 CharlatanCharlatan
 Unable to listenUnable to listen
 Wants to talk moreWants to talk more
 Humble
 Self-effacing
 Unassuming
 Knows himself
 Wise
 Has self-confidence
 Does not have to prove
himself/herself
 Accommodating to the
poor

34. Suggested Songs
 It’s Time to Prepare
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIandBaBMck
 When We Eat
 http://youtu.be/0qg_-wvSm7M
 Lord I Know
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulqjOjYZOns&
 Like a Sunflower

35.  Dear sisters and brothers,
 Let us be humble always, to avoid
embarrassment.
 Fr. Cielo