by Fr. Tommy Lane
On a British Airways flight from Johannesburg, a middle-aged, well-off white South African Lady had found herself sitting next to a black man. She called the cabin crew attendant over to complain about her seating. “What seems to be the problem Madam?” asked the attendant.
“Can’t you see?” she said. “You’ve sat me next to a kaffir. I can’t possibly sit next to this disgusting human. Find me another seat!” “Please calm down Madam.” the stewardess replied. “The flight is very full today, but I’ll tell you what I’ll do- I’ll go and check to see if we have any seats available in club or first class.” The woman cocks a snooty look at the outraged black man beside her (not to mention at many of the surrounding passengers also).
A few minutes later the stewardess returns with the good news, which she delivers to the lady, who cannot help but look at the people around her with a smug and self satisfied grin: “Madam, unfortunately, as I suspected, economy is full. I’ve spoken to the cabin services director, and club is also full. However, we do have one seat in first class”.
Before the lady has a chance to answer, the
stewardess continues, “It is most extraordinary to make this kind of
upgrade, however, and I have had to get special permission from the captain.
But, given the circumstances, the captain felt that it was outrageous that
someone be forced to sit next to such an obnoxious person.” With which, she
turned to the black man sitting next to her, and said: “So if you’d like to
get your things, sir, I have your seat ready for you in first class up at the
front...” At which point, apparently the surrounding passengers stood and gave
a standing ovation while the black guy walks up to first class in the front of
the plane.
(Unfortunately I do not know the source
of this story)
We are all shocked at the prejudice of that white South African lady, we feel sorry for the insulted man and we can identify with the other passengers who applauded the stewardess for moving the man up to first class.
There are also distinctions between people in today’s Gospel parable, distinctions reflected in the places they sit at at table (Luke 14:7-14). Why would someone want to choose the place of honor or not want to sit next to a certain person? A lack of humility. How do people react to someone who is lacking in humility? Not very positively. The passengers around the snooty lady in the plane and the cabin crew did not take to her or her request to move to a higher place at the table. Those who exalt themselves irritate others. Pride, boasting and snobbery fools no one but the snob and does not earn them the respect they wanted, but unfortunately the opposite. The proud and boastful do damage to themselves by exalting themselves. So what Jesus said in our Gospel is true, “those who exalt themselves will be humbled.”
Let’s probe this lack of
humility a little more. Why would someone want to exalt themselves or, in the
language of Jesus’ parable in the Gospel today, want the best place at table? One
reason could be that they feel inferior to others or are lacking in
self-confidence. They try to
compensate by exalting themselves.
A proverb from somewhere in Asia is good; it
says, “Don’t make your self so high, you are not so low.” In other words, “Don’t boast or be snobbish, you are not really so
inferior that you have to compensate by looking down on someone else.” Don’t
make yourself so high, you are not so low.
The solution to the problem of feeling
inferior to others or lacking in self-confidence is not in boasting or behaving
like a snob or demanding the top place at the table. The solution is in recognizing that we receive our value from
God and not from others’ opinions of us. Others’ opinions of us are a factor but do not determine our value. Our value is that we are all equal in
dignity before God as his sons and daughters. Those who are proud or boastful or snobs do not realize that everything
they have has come from God. None
of us has anything that was not given to us by God therefore the only thing each
of us can boast of is God. Think
about it; we do not have anything that was not given to us by God so why be
proud. It is all God’s.
So the problem of pride or lack of
humility is not really the problem, the problem is one layer deeper, forgetting
that since baptism we are all sons and daughters of God, forgetting that we, by
ourselves, are not capable of saving ourselves and are saved only by the death
of Jesus. We have all been
purchased by Jesus for the Father at the greatest price. We all cost the greatest price, that
price is the life and death of Jesus. That
is the only thing we can boast of, and nothing else. We are worth the life of Jesus! And so also is the person next to you,
behind you, in front of you. So we are all equally precious. In society unfortunately it does not
always work like that but that is Jesus’ plan for his kingdom.
Our first reading gives us a good
antidote to the problem of pride:
“My son be gentle in carrying
out your business, Our model in humility is Jesus. He was a friend of sinners, so much so
that a rhyme was made up about him:
“Behold a glutton and a
drunkard, He washed the feet of the disciples at
the Last Supper as a sign that his followers are to serve. Jesus did not come to be served but to
serve. We, his followers, are
called by him not to be served to serve.
“My son be gentle in carrying
out your business, “Everyone who exalts himself
will be humbled, This homily was delivered when I was engaged in parish ministry in Ireland
before joining the faculty of
Mount St. Mary’s Seminary,
Emmitsburg, Maryland. More homilies for the Twenty-Second Sunday Year C
We do not need false appearances because we are citizens of
heaven
2007 Related Homilies: What motivates you? God's Love for you
or your love of yourself? 2009 We are all equal in
dignity before God The journey from pride to humility The greatest among you must be
your servant Book excerpt: Ruth Burrows on
humility stories about humility
and you will be better loved than a lavish giver.
The greater you are, the more you should behave humbly,
and then you will find favor with the Lord.”
(Sirach/Ecclesiasticus 3:17-18)
a friend of tax-collectors and sinners.”
(Luke 7:34)
and you will be better loved than a lavish giver.
The greater you are, the more you should behave humbly,
and then you will find favor with the Lord.”
(Sirach/Ecclesiasticus 3:17-18)
and the man who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke
14:11)