22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily (2025)
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29
Psalm 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11 (see 11b)
Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a
Luke 14:1, 7-14
August 31, 2025
Humility and pride.
We talk about them as opposites. When we do, we view “pride” as boasting about what we have done to make ourselves look and/or feel good. As the opposite, “humility” comes to be seen as denying that we do anything good.
Pride is one of the seven deadly sins. In this sense, pride is boasting with a failure to give credit where credit is due. As a sin, pride is a failure to give credit to God for the gifts He has given us and the ways in which He has helped us.
Humility is an opposite of the sin of pride in that we do not take more credit than we deserve. We give proper credit to God and to others when they have helped us. Humility is a virtue. It is something good. It does not mean we deny that we have done anything good. We can acknowledge the good as long as we give proper credit to God and others.
In this understanding of humility and pride, would you rather interact with a prideful person or a humble person?
Sirach tells us to “conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.”
Pride can divide us, especially if we feel we are not given proper credit, as this builds resentment.
When a person is focused on their ego (pride), they may try to do more than they are capable of because they don’t want to admit what they can’t do. They say they will do it but can’t. Then, we begin to realize we can’t count on them to do what they say they will.
Pride can also become manifest in arrogance, a presumption of always being right. This can lead to polarization.
Jesus tells a parable about a person who seeks places of honor. How do such people make you feel? Do we not, as Sirach said, love the humble person more?
Seeking places of honor can cause more division and resentment. The last thing we need is more division or more hatred.
We are called to be humble, for those who are poor in spirit will inherit the kingdom of Heaven.
What does pride get us?
There was another school shooting this week. It occurred at the opening Mass for the school year at Annunciation school in Minneapolis.
I don’t know if “pride” was directly involved but from the reports thus far, the shooter, Robert “Robin” Westman wrote of the hate he had for many different groups of people. Hate can relate to pride in thinking oneself better than others.
Yet, before we rush to judge Westman, we should humble ourselves and recognize he was a troubled soul. Reports say he identified as sad person who know it was wrong but couldn’t stop himself (Tyler Arnold, “Minneapolis Catholic Church shooter mocked Christ in video before attack.” Catholic News Agency. 8/27/25. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/266215/minneapolis-catholic-church-shooter-mocked-christ-in-video-before-attack).
Instead of hating the shooter, instead of rushing to judgment, remember Jesus taught, “For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you” (Matthew 7:2), we must pray for his soul, and anyone who shares his struggles.
After all, while none of us has committed a shooting, let alone a mass shooting, we have our own struggles with sin. We all need grace.
It is only when we are willing to humble ourselves and admit our sins to God, that we realize how wrong we can be and how much we need God’s forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and how much we need his grace for the future.
What is your prayer like?
Do you speak to God about the struggles you face in your life? He wants you to do this.
The question is when you “pray,” do you tell God how to fix your problems for you? That would mean you think you know better than God. That would be pride for you certainly do not know better than God.
A humble person tells God all their problems. A humble person speaks to God of what help they feel they need. Then, they entrust their sufferings to God who is all-knowing. A humble person then asks God what they should do.
In his writings, Westman said he regretted his attempts at gender transitioning (Tyler Arnold, “Minneapolis Catholic church shooter expressed regret about ‘gender transition.’” Catholic News Agency. 8/29/2025. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/266243/minneapolis-catholic-church-shooter-expressed-regret-about-gender-transition).
The world gave him what he thought he wanted. What he needed is proper mental health care for his depression, hatred, an his desire to harm others. Most of all his needed grace just as we all do.
Do you ask God for what you want or do you allow him to give you what you need?
The world needs saving. Jesus is the Savior of the world but He has a part for you to play in saving the world. Humble yourself. Listen to him. Do what the Lord says.