31 August 2025 (Sunday) / 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time / Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

31 August 2025 (Sunday)

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Readings from the Bible of the Roman Catholic Church:

First Reading: Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 3: 17-20, 28-29
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 68: 4-5, 6-7, 10-11
Second Reading: Hebrews 12: 18-19, 22-24
Alleluia: Matthew 11: 29
Gospel: Luke 14: 1, 7-14

First Reading : Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 3:17-20, 28-29

My son, be gentle in carrying out your business, and you will be better loved than a lavish giver. The greater you are, the more you should behave humbly, and then you will find favour with the Lord; for great though the power of the Lord is, he accepts the homage of the humble. There is no cure for the proud man’s malady, since an evil growth has taken root in him. The heart of a sensible man will reflect on parables, an attentive ear is the sage’s dream.

Responsive Psalm : Psalm 67(68):4‐7,10‐11

In your goodness, O God, you prepared a home for the poor.

The just shall rejoice at the presence of God, they shall exult and dance for joy. O sing to the Lord, make music to his name; rejoice in the Lord, exult at his presence.

In your goodness, O God, you prepared a home for the poor.

Father of the orphan, defender of the widow, such is God in his holy place. God gives the lonely a home to live in; he leads the prisoners forth into freedom.

In your goodness, O God, you prepared a home for the poor.

You poured down, O God, a generous rain: when your people were starved you gave them new life. It was there that your people found a home, prepared in your goodness, O God, for the poor.

In your goodness, O God, you prepared a home for the poor.

Second Reading : Hebrews 12:18‐19,22‐24

What you have come to is nothing known to the senses: not a blazing fire, or a gloom turning to total darkness, or a storm; or trumpeting thunder or the great voice speaking which made everyone that heard it beg that no more should be said to them. But what you have come to is Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem where the millions of angels have gathered for the festival, with the whole Church in which everyone is a ‘first‐born son’ and a citizen of heaven. You have come to God himself, the supreme Judge, and been placed with spirits of the saints who have been made perfect; and to Jesus, the mediator who brings a new covenant.

Alleluia: Matthew 11: 29
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
29 Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Luke 14:1,7‐14

On a sabbath day Jesus had gone for a meal to the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely. He then told the guests a parable, because he had noticed how they picked the places of honour. He said this, ‘When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take your seat in the place of honour. A more distinguished person than you may have been invited, and the person who invited you both may come and say, “Give up your place to this man.” And then, to your embarrassment, you would have to go and take the lowest place. No; when you are a guest, make your way to the lowest place and sit there, so that, when your host comes, he may say, “My friend, move up higher.” In that way, everyone with you at the table will see you honoured. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the man who humbles himself will be exalted.’ Then he said to his host, ‘When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not ask your friends, brothers, relations or rich neighbours, for fear they repay your courtesy by inviting you in return. No; when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; that they cannot pay you back means that you are fortunate, because repayment will be made to you when the virtuous rise again.’

For our reflection today:

Jesus, while participating in a meal at the house of one of the leaders of the Pharisees, takes the opportunity to teach humility. He tells us to choose the lowest seat, to be content with little, to seek not the appearance of seeming, but the reality of being. Before God, we are nothing; and even before men, we are very little, even ridiculous and miserable, if we adopt poses and attitudes of self-sufficiency, of vanity. However, Jesus does not just want to offer suggestions of good manners and prudent behavior; He primarily wants to shape our minds and give us great and luminous ideas for our lives. He adds, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). This may sometimes happen in this life, here on earth, but that is secondary. What is essential is that the humble will be exalted in heaven by God Himself. “Do you want to be great?” asked St. Augustine; and he replied, “Begin with the smallest things. Do you want to build a tower of great height? First think of the foundation of lowliness” (St. Augustine, Sermon 69, 1,2). If we truly wish to build the edifice of our sanctification, we must lay its foundation on humility. ((St. John Paul II, Homily, Innocent III Square in Anagni, 31 August 1986)

Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Most High Servant,
Jesus, Mary, Joseph Ministry of Love (Blessed  and Saints and the Nine Choirs of Angels)