22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time [C]

 


22ND SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [C]


According to Jesus, you’re better off embracing humility up front, voluntarily, rather than having it forced upon you, like a bitter pill that has to be swallowed (Luke 14:11). In basic terms, humility is a part of life; it comes to us all. If you resist humility, if you are in the habit of exalting yourself, then humility will be visited upon you, with severity. It will be painful. In many ways, it will feel as if you have received a punch in the nose. 


Take for example the case of Leroy Brown; he’s the subject of a popular song from 1973. He’s known as “bad, bad Leroy Brown.”  He’s the baddest man who strolls this town. He’s riding high, living it up. The world is his oyster. However, by the end of the song, he’s battered and bruised. He was making a pass at the wife of an extremely jealous man. Subsequently, Leroy has been brought down. As we hear in the Gospel, if you exalt yourself, humility will be visited upon you, like a bolt out of the blue. On the other hand, if you accept humility as a friend, then you are on track so that you can be exalted. 


What does it mean, to be exalted? Exaltation can be understood as a two-stage process. Stage one refers to the earthly dimension. We face our share of challenges as we forge along, through this earthly realm. Sometimes these challenges are small. At other times, they come across as “big and bad.”  Still, you will be able to see your way through. Why? It’s because the Lord has drawn close to you. Your sense of pride was running interference. But you take the word of God seriously. The Book of Sirach matters to you, especially as it speaks to the issue of humility (see 3:17-18). Furthermore, the Gospel of Luke matters to you. As a result, pride has been displaced by humility. The Lord is getting close to you, accompanying you. 


It’s not as if the threats have disappeared. Instead, you’re finding that you can hold your own against the Leroy Brown’s of this world. The threats continue to present themselves. But with each threat you are able to see a way forward. Pride has taken a back-seat. And now the Lord can be there for you. He can be your defender and your guide. That’s what stage one exaltation is all about. It pertains to this earthly way of life. You are being lifted up enough so that you can see a way forward, as you confront the various (inevitable) challenges. Meanwhile, what can we say about stage two?


Simply take a fresh look at Hebrews chapter twelve. You’re not in Leroy’s town anymore. Now you’re in the Lord’s town—a Jerusalem that is both new and also transfigured (see Heb. 12:18-24). You’re no longer being surrounded by threats. Instead, you’re being surrounded by angels, by saints, and by all that the Lord has to offer. During stage one, the radiance and the glory were being filtered. With stage two, it becomes something unfiltered. You’ve paid your dues. Now the exaltation is being taken to a new level—call it the Ultimate Level.

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