30th Sunday C 26 October 2025 Sermon

30th Sunday C    26 October 2025 Humility

The readings today present us with a closer look at a very important quality, namely humility.

Humility is not just putting oneself down, for example saying that I am no good at anything. It is not so much about what is wrong with me as what is right with  God. Not so much my weakness as His strength.

It is God's perfections which make us humble, as we realize we are a long way short of what He is (like an insect comparing itself to a mountain).

We are humbled as we consider that one so great can find  time for my conversation. World leaders would  not be so interested in my life as God Himself is!

We are dust and ashes by comparison but confidently expect to be glorified one day. To dust we shall return but after that we will rise in glory.

But all the while staying humble, because this would  not happen without God, who thought of the whole thing and watches over its progress.

We follow Our Lady who saw herself as the lowest of the low yet marvelled that God would lift her  so that all ages would call her blessed. Her humility can be likened to a very clean window letting in the full sunlight.  Or a clearing of a path of obstacles, enabling the entry of something desirable. Prepare ye the way of the Lord!

If we should take a false step and forget our humble status we become distorted and all manner of irregular things happen. The fallen angels thought they were equal to God or maybe better.

We can learn from the publican  God, be merciful to me a sinner. (Lk 18,13)

That’s all he said and all it needed. The prayer was probably better for being short, as even prayer can be a source of pride, as we see with the pharisee.

To find our true status is the necessary goal. We interpret everything that happens in terms of God's view of things, not our own view.

If a particular decision has to be made, or attitude adopted, or outcome to be sought – it is to God that we look. Thy will be done!  God's will is better for me than to follow my own will.

The prayer of the humble man will pierce the clouds (Sir 35,21) first reading). Humility will get further than pride because it is more harmonious with God. It is a meeting of like with like and will bring forth even better still.

Humility is power, a shock reversal of worldly thinking where military and economic might are considered the source of power.

Stalin is supposed to have said; how many divisions does the pope have? Meaning military strength. The humble Church will triumph over its persecutors. We can win another way.

When we click into our exact place with God, we will see miracles coming, good things happening, bad things averted.

Especially is this so when several people do this. A family, a parish, a diocese, the Church – all can do this. And be like the publican, in humble bearing.

The message is frequent through the New Testament – Clothe yourselves in humility: Ephesians 4:2

Colossians 3:12  believers should be completely humble, gentle, and patient, bearing with one another in love.

Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself".

1 Peter 5:6 encourages, "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time". 

And Our Lady herself: ‘He has brought down the proud and raised the lowly.’ (Lk 1, 52)

May she help us to be truly humble and contrite before the majesty of God: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.