Humility is the main theme of this week’s Sunday readings. The passage from the Book of Sirach reminds us that whatever we do, whatever activity we engage in, we need to do it in humility.
This applies to the way we worship, the way we do our daily tasks, and even the way we think. It is not enough to appear outwardly humble but have prideful thoughts…we also need to ensure that our thoughts, especially the way that we think about ourselves and others, are humble us well. In this way, the Book of Sirach says, we will glorify the Lord.
Our second reading, from the Letter to the Hebrews, speaks of the holy reality to which we have been called. We are on pilgrimage to the city of the Living God, hopefully getting closer to this city. Closer and not further away. And we are already surrounded by angels, spirits of the just, the assembly of the first born. This is a good opportunity to remind ourselves of Guardian Angels, who are present with each one of us, even though they are (usually) invisible to the eye. Just as we pray the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel after every Mass, I would encourage everyone to pray to their Guardian Angel. Our individual Guardian Angel is tasked with our physical and spiritual well-being. Additionally, we are already being cheered on our pilgrimage by those who have gone before us, who are marked with the sign of faith.
This past week, I had the opportunity to pray at Martyrs’ Shrine in Midland. If you’ve been to Martyrs’ Shrine, you’ll know that in the main church there are striking stained glass windows, with images of Christ and the saints. In this new school and academic year, I would like to focus on the saints that are proper to this local church – in particular, the saints that adorn our stained-glass windows. The saints are those who point out to us that living the Gospel radically is not only possible, but it also brings a quiet joy that nothing else in the world can give. So, let us call upon the saints often, along with St. Michael the Archangel, and the Guardian Angels.
Lastly, our Gospel reading underlines the message about humility. On our earthly pilgrimage, we are not to seek the first place, or take the pride of place. When we come to church, we should realize that, without exception, we are all sinners in need of redemption. The "Lord have mercy” or "Kyrie eleison” invocation at the beginning of Mass is not just window dressing. Humility in worship is key. External piety is important, because our gestures, how we pray, can make us more mindful of the presence of the Holy; however, most important is our innermost conviction, our innermost attitude of the heart. And this is where, like the Gospel suggests, we are called to come to realization that in fact, if we only based ourselves on our merits, we would need to take the last place in the banquet hall. It is Christ, the master of the banquet, who comes to us, and says, I give you my unmerited grace, my grace which you have not deserved, but which I freely choose to give to you – if you accept it. “Friend, move up higher”, says Jesus Christ. Would that we never put ourselves in a situation where Jesus needs to say to us, come down, take the lowest place.
We are not a haven for the righteous, a club for people who have already “made it” in their life of faith. Instead, we are an ecclesia-a church, a koinonia-communion of baptized believers on the road to the heavenly Jerusalem. And this road leads through some twists and turns, some bumps, and most importantly – this road leads through conversion.
One year ago, I was appointed to St. Hedwig’s as pastor. Much has happened this year…and as we begin this new school and academic year, I encourage you to stay abreast of parish events by reading the bulletin, keeping up with what is happening in the parish. I am deeply grateful for the assistance and fraternity that Fr. Hattie’s presence provides and wish him many more years of priestly service here. In this past month, we have welcomed another member to our Oblate community – Br. Grzegorz Loska. Brother Grzegorz lives out his oblation, his consecration not in the context of holy orders – the priesthood or the diaconate - but in the context of a consecrated man living the vows of poverty, chastity, obedience – and a fourth vow, uniquely Oblate – the vow of perseverance. This past year has also been a reminder of how much St. Hedwig’s owes to former parish priests, who have instructed, catechized, and divinized through the sacraments the people they served. They have been able to count upon the faith of the people of Barry’s Bay and area. A faith that is not contrived; a faith that has survived many a storm; a faith that lives. With the assistance of the saints and angels, and with healthy humility that leads to conversion, let us walk the path to the heavenly Jerusalem.
(Fr. Pawel Ratajczak, OMI, Sept. 1, 2019)