Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Homily)

August 28, 2016 5:00 pm  · Father Dan Vanyo

Homilies, Ordinary Time

From the book of Sirach we hear, "My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts." And who doesn't love it when someone gives us a gift? It's nice to receive a gift, we like that, we appreciate the person, at least that would be the normal response. Even more than that, one clothed with humility will be loved even more. Do you appreciate somebody that does all the talking but they don't listen to you? Or rarely, they are kind of done when they are done. Do you typically appreciate that? Or do you appreciate a dialog? When you do some talking but then you also listen? Do you appreciate when normally someone listens to you?

The person that can't listen or serve is typically selfish, or self-full or full of themselves if you prefer.  But they are full of their self.  How can you be selfless and serve God and neighbor if you are just full of yourself?  You can't do it, because you are just giving you.  But we can empty ourselves and fill up with Him, that what we can return to God and pass onto our neighbor.  So the more we are selfless the more we have self emptying and fill up with Christ, the more we can truly serve, the more we can truly love God and neighbor.  It's really the only way to truly love God and neighbor.