August 31, 2025 - One Bread, One Body
August 31, Twenty-Second Sunday Ordinary Time
Cycle C Readings:
1) Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29
Psalm 68:4-7, 10-11
2) Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24
Luke 14:1, 7-14
The Lowdown on Humility
“Conduct your affairs with humility.” —Sirach 3:17
Jesus is “humble of heart” (Mt 11:29), continually going to a lower place. He left the royal bliss of heaven to suffer rejection, even though He created the world. “To His own He came, yet His own did not accept Him” (Jn 1:11). He was born in a humble stable, not a royal palace. Though sinless, He accepted a baptism of repentance (Mt 3:13-17). Out of love for us, Jesus even “became sin” (see 2 Cor 5:21) and “a curse for us” (Gal 3:13). Jesus chose as His apostles lowly, uneducated laborers, “those who count for nothing” (1 Cor 1:28). If there was a way to go lower, Jesus kept finding it.
Even in a moment of public triumph, Jesus remained humble, entering Jerusalem on a donkey rather than a mighty stallion (Mt 21:5; Zec 9:9). Though Master, Jesus performed the lowly work of a servant by washing the feet of His apostles (Jn 13:4-5). When accused, He did not defend Himself, but let Himself be condemned without opening His mouth in self-defense (Mt 26:63; Is 53:7). Then He endured “the lowest place” (Lk 14:10), just so we might possibly choose to love Him. He humbled Himself even to a humiliating, public death reserved for criminals and slaves (Phil 2:7-8).
“God is love” (1 Jn 4:8, 16). He will take the very lowest place if that’s what it takes to save us (see Ps 139:8). We can wander to the farthest place from God, and paradoxically, He is there to rescue us, even though we might reject or ignore Him (see Lk 15:4). Come to Jesus and beg Him, “Jesus, gentle and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine” (see Mt 11:28-29).
Prayer: Father, take away not only my sins, but also my pride. May I humble myself daily in Your sight (1 Pt 5:6).
Promise: “Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.” —Sir 3:18
Praise: “Praise Jesus, Who humbled Himself and left the glory of heaven so that we could be exalted and live with Him forever.
Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Imprimatur ("Permission to Publish") for One Bread, One Body covering the period from August 1, 2025, through September 30, 2025. †Most Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio September 25, 2024."
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.