22nd Sunday of Ordinary Times

      In the Bible, the Kingdom of God is often compared to a banquet. Jesus laid down norms regarding those to be invited and how to behave at such a banquet, His disciples, he says in the Gospel, must be constantly ready to serve the least, the poor, those rejected by all. The first reading gives us the reflection of a wise man of the Old Testament. He teaches us that the best way to be loved by God and by people is to be always open to helping others. The second reading confirms that by approaching Christ with an attitude of love towards our brothers and sisters, we must have accepted the new religion, the religion of cheer and joy, a banquet.

           Jesus’ teaching on true humility comes when he tells us about inviting those who cannot repay the favor. Humility is the ability to see everyone as having been created in the image and likeness of God. Christ-like humility is a love for all people because they are loved by God. Jesus not only taught it but practiced it. He responded to all people. He reminds us that humility is not so much about what we think of ourselves, as it’s about what we think of others and how we treat them.