When the Lowest Reaches the Highest
Homily on Saturday, 30th Week in OT, Memorial of St Charles Borromeo, 4 Nov 2023, LSCK Chapel
Some years ago when I was still assigned in Lourdes Parish we invited our staff to join us for the dinner salu-salo in the social hall. When we were about to start I noticed that the tables in front of the stage were vacant and almost everyone chose to sit themselves at the back. I guess this is a very common sight in many banquets among us Filipinos. Could it be that we Pinoys are naturally humble and unassuming, mahiyain or shy before other people? Or do we just prefer to be at the back because it is the most strategic place, nearest the lechon and buffet table and nearest the exit door?
The Gospel passage we have heard today shows Jesus teaching an important lesson on social etiquette and the virtue of humility. It is actually a continuation of yesterday’s lesson on the prime importance of Christian charity over Sabbath laws. Through these gospel stories, we see how much Jesus as a person was deeply human and powerfully divine as well.
Being fully human like anyone of us Jesus liked spending bonding moments with people, whether good or bad, rich or poor, learned or ignorant. And even if the Pharisees have always been suspicious and critical about everything he would say and do in public, Jesus still accepted the invitation to dine with them in one of the Pharisee’s home that day.
If you recall, yesterday’s gospel story was about the miraculous cure a man suffering from dropsy. And what Jesus himself said about it had silenced the Pharisees who had been watching every move he made. This time it was his turn to watch and observe them. And after seeing how people were choosing the best places of honor at table, he began to teach them a lesson. His simple but strong recommendation was for people to sit themselves at the last and the lowest place in the banquet hall, in order to give way for more distinguished guests to be seated at the reserved seats of honor.
Many years ago there was a priest who got invited to the wedding reception after having officiated the wedding. Since he took time to change his under shirt so wet with sweat, before entering the banquet hall he came late and started to fall in line at the buffet table wearing ordinary clothes. At first no one recognized him. But when he was recognized by the host as the priest who presided the Mass, he was immediately told to come up to the presidential table and join the rest of the honoured guests. But the priest insisted to stay on the line assuring the host that it was okay for him to join the rest of the ordinary crowd. But the host would not hear any of his alibi’s, saying to him“Father, usually po kapag may isang malaking handaan ang mga tao ang lumalapit sa hapag kainan. Pero, para po sa inyo ang pagkain ang siyang lumalapit sa naimbitahan.”
I guess that particular priest just wanted to show everyone an example of social etiquette and humility following Jesus’ teaching, but the good news is he himself experienced the fulfilment of what Jesus promised “The one who humbles himself will be exalted.” And so he got his place at the honoured presidential table. Would you know who that priest was? His name is Fr Chito Tagle, known today as Cardinal Chito Tagle, who is occupying one of the highest positions at the Vatican.
Today we celebrate the memorial of St Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan, born in Arona, Italy in 1538. Though he came from a rich and powerful family, he made a choice at twelve years old to give a big part of his wealth for the benefit of the poor. And after he earned his doctorate in both civil law and canon law at twenty-one years old, he left behind his home and his family to respond to God’s call. With all his heart he decided to put himself at the service of Christ and his Church following the request of the Pope, his uncle, who appointed him as protonotary apostolic.
At twenty-four Charles was ordained a priest, and then a few months later he was appointed the Cardinal and Archbishop of Milan. It was he who established seminaries for the formation of priests so that the Church may truly be reformed in the wake of the Protestant Reformation. Moreover he played a great role at the Council of Trent that sought to bring more reforms in the much bigger Church headed by the Vatican. When famine and plague broke out in the city of Milan in 1576, he used his own fortune to feed the starving people. It was said that during those trying times, he may have fed 70,000 people per day. He died of a serious illness in 1584 at 46 years old. His life was a clear example of what Jesus taught in the gospel: “The one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
May this Eucharist which we celebrate today inspire us and move us to grow in both human and Christian virtues, but all the time remaining humble and unassuming in the eyes of both God and the people. GiGsss!
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