TOPIC:
BE HUMBLE
30C Sunday Homily, Luke 18:9-14,
October 23, 2022
1) STORY
There was a beautiful apple tree which
was very proud of its apples and leaves. One day a humble little woodpecker flew to the
tree and heard a buzzing sound. After
listening carefully, it discovered that there were bugs inside the trunk and
decided to help the apple tree. It then
made a hole in the trunk of the tree and ate the bugs. The proud apple tree became very angry and
told the woodpecker never to return as it only welcomed beautiful birds. Thus, the woodpecker never returned. Eventually the bugs returned and ate the
inside of the hollow trunk, but the tree paid no attention to this. One day a strong wind knocked down the apple
tree because the bugs destroyed it by eating away at it. The proud apple tree learned too late that it
needed the help of the humble woodpecker to stay strong.
2) GOSPEL, Luke 18:9-14
A) THE PROUD PHARISEE
The first act the Pharisee did was to
criticize others by saying he was not like the rest of humanity: greedy,
dishonest, adulterous or even like the tax collector. The second was that he praised himself saying
he fasted twice a week and paid tithes on his income.
B) THE HUMBLE TAX COLLECTOR
The first act of the tax collector was
to admit that he was a sinner. The second was that he asked God to be merciful
to him. “O God, be merciful to me a
sinner.” Jesus tells us that whoever
exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be
exalted.”
3) APPLICATION TO LIFE
A) The humble person understands that
all good things come from God. Only with
God’s help are we able to walk, talk, hear, work and think. Without God’s help, we are helpless.
B) The humble person knows that he/she
has virtues and vices, has good points and bad points, has strengths and
weaknesses and is both a saint and a sinner. This person always asks for God’s mercy and
for his help to improve.
4) CONCLUSION
Just as the apple tree needed the help
of the woodpecker so, too, do we need God’s help. We, like the humble tax collector, understand
the need for God’s mercy, forgiveness and help.
