22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

31^st August 2025

Lectionary Readings: Sir 3:17-18,20,28-29;Ps. 68:4-5,6-7,10-11;

Heb. 12:18-19,22-24a; Luke 14:1, 7-14

Today’s liturgical texts draw our attention to humility as the foundation of practising God’s Word and, consequently, of closeness to God. As Proverbs says, “The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord” (Prov. 22:4). Jewish tradition is rich in teachings on this topic. One example: “Humility is learned from Mount Sinai, as our Sages taught: ‘Why was the Torah given on Mount Sinai and not on another mountain?’ Thus, the Scripture says: ‘O lofty mountains, why do you envy the mountain where God chose to dwell?'” (Ps. 68:17). Because Mount Sinai humbled itself and displayed humility, that is why the Torah was given on it” (TB Sotah 5a, Yalkut Shimoni, Shemot 284). We also learn that Moses was chosen by God to reveal His Word and the Bible defines him as the most humble among men: “Now Moses was a very humble man, the most humble of all the men who were on the face of the earth” (Nm 12,3).

This brings us directly to today’s readings. Every sentence of Ben Sira’s text (3:17-29) focuses on the commandment to be humble: “My son, do everything in humility, and you will be loved more than a benefactor. The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself… The condition of the proud is without remedy, for the root of evil is within him.” Psalm 67 insists on God’s goodness, as if saying that God sets an example of serving those in need and He is on the side of the charitable, of those who serve others, as opposed to those who are proud and think they are the best: “The righteous rejoice and exult; they dance for joy before God. Father of orphans and defender of widows, such is God in his holy habitation. You showered generous rain on your inheritance… God who is kind to the poor”. In this sense, the Tradition of Israel: “Rabbi Jochanan said, Wherever you find the greatness of the Holy One, blessed be He, there you find His humility” (TB Megillah 31a).

In the Gospel (Luke 14:1.7-14), Jesus insists on the need for humility, not seeking first place, and not acting arrogantly. We therefore perceive the conversation between the texts, without a before or after, but in sequence, starting from within. Jesus is echoing teachings present in the Scriptures and the tradition of his people. The liturgy of the Word of God introduces us to the Tradition that experienced, interpreted, and transmitted the Word of God. Understanding the New Testament must necessarily involve understanding the Word of God in the Jewish context in which it was circulated, lived and written. This means that Jesus’ teachings are illuminated by the Jewish tradition of which he is a part. Without this knowledge, understanding the New Testament is compromised. As the Church document states: “To accurately interpret New Testament texts, knowledge of contemporary Judaism is often necessary.” (The Jewish People and Their Holy Scriptures in the Christian Bible, Pontifical Biblical Commission, 2001, nº. 84).

This week’s Sunday Liturgy Commentary was prepared by

Elio Passeto, NDS, Jerusalem–Israel, Director

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