Sunday Sept 1st - 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Sunday after Game #2: Aug 28th: The Rest Return

Many of you may know by now that before I became a priest, I was an actor and performer. And one of the things I hated the most, as an actor especially, was to be having my picture taken. I always made sure that they weren't taking a picture of me, but a picture of the character "Kurt Wagner". I wasn't very humble about my work and in the end I went through all manner of hubris to make sure nobody actually met or saw "me". "They wouldn't understand." "I was too special." "I was just going to have to lower myself to be what they expected of me..." So, no. Not very humble at all.

One of the first things I had to learn when I entered seminary was how to be myself all the time. I was very good at playing roles, but I know you don't want some one who acts like a priest only for an hour every Sunday up here talking to you. I'm sure you would much rather have someone who is a priest. Playing these roles in our lives is something we all have experienced I think.

In today's gospel, we see that Jesus has no problem being himself being himself, even in public, even when he is under great scrutiny. He watches the guests and gives them a lesson about their own hubris as they all scramble for the best seats that will make them look the most important. He suggests, through his parable, to try not to look important, but to simply be oneself - to leave it to those around you to judge because surely if you are important, they will let you know. That humility, at all times, He says if the difference between the bewildered embarrassment of the reminder that you may not be the guest of honor that day, and the pleasant surprise of discovering that you are!

And so who does Jesus count as possible guests of honor at these banquets that everyone in the Bible was holding? Not just the Pharisees and other distinguished people, but the crippled, the blind, and the poor - the lowest echelons of their society. He tells us that everybody is worthy and furthermore that those who care for and protect these most humble people will recieve a still greater reward for the humility they themselves show. Jesus presents to us the opportunity for an endless circle of compassion - ever repeating and open to everyone.

Now, I know I'm over the one story per homily limit by doing this, but examples of Christ-like humily can be found in our daily lives - even when we're not looking for them.

This week, policemen came looking for a student at the school where I work. They told me that this student was wanted for murder of all things and they had come to take him away. I happen to know this student quite well and so I immediately told these men that there must be some mistake - that they either had the wrong person or it was some kind of paperwork problem. Because surely this student hadn't committed such a crime. In my panic, I even suggested to this student that he request asylum from the church until the mistake could be cleared away. (A bit like an overly proud parent suggesting that their child never ever misbehaved I'm afraid. None of us are perfect...)

However, instead of taking the easy way out that I had suggested or shouting "This is unfair! I won't go with them!" The student said, quite calmly to me and to his peers, "I am innocent. I know this. I will go with them and show them." And he left with the policemen.

This, my friends, is true humility like that that Our Savior showed on his walk to Calvary. It is here for us everyday to be called to be as humble and brave as this young student, for therein lies our greatest reward.

Thank you.

--Fr. Kurt