Let me begin with a funny story I got from the internet about Christian Archibald Herter. He was a United States politician and statesman, governor of Massachusetts and Secretary of State from 1959 to 1961. One day, after a busy morning chasing votes (without lunch), he arrived at a church barbecue. It was late afternoon and Herter was famished. As Herter moved down the serving line, he held out his plate to the woman serving chicken. She put a piece on his plate and turned to the next person in line.

“‘Excuse me,” Governor Herter said, “do you mind if I have another piece of chicken?” “‘Sorry,” the woman told him. “I’m supposed to give one piece of chicken to each person because you are going to get other food items also from other servers.” “‘But I’m starved, and I love chicken,” the governor said. “‘Sorry,” the woman said again. “Only one to a customer.”

Governor Herter was a modest and unassuming man, but he decided that this time he would throw a little weight around. “‘Do you know who I am?” he said. “I am the governor of this state!” “‘Do you know who I am?” the woman retorted. “I’m the lady in charge of the chicken. Move along, mister.”

The theme of our readings this weekend is humility. The Book of Sirach reminds us, “My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts. Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.” Humility, though, is not the denial of one’s gifts and talents. It has nothing to do with self-deprecation that leaves a person without self-esteem. Rather, it is a profound awareness that everything I have is a gift from God, and therefore, I have no reason to boast. At the same time, it is an honest admission that I do not know everything, that I do not do everything correctly all the time, and that I am weak. Hence, humility is a proper understanding of who we are, of our capacities and limitations, and of our true worth before God.

In the Gospel, Jesus was invited to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees. You can presume that he was invited because he was already a prominent name, noted for curing the sick and doing miracles. Jesus was neither interested in such fame nor to the “perks” that famous people would receive from people. Instead, he used the occasion to teach them a lesson about the Kingdom, and how humility is necessary to be invited to the heavenly banquet. He recommends, “when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’” It is God, the host of the heavenly banquet, who will invite those who are humble and lowly, to move up and enjoy the rewards of heaven.

Ten (10) years ago, on August 27th, I received the gift of ordination through the laying on of hands of Bishop Joseph Nacua, OFM Cap, DD. It has been such a beautiful journey, filled with joy, contentment and peace. I have nothing in my heart but gratitude to the Lord and to you. You have made seven of those ten years such a wonderful and enriching ride. I hope that you can say the same. With what I have done and accomplished, I thank God and give him back the glory. With what I have failed to do, I ask God to forgive me and give me the grace to be better. I pray for humility. Help me be.