30C Sunday homily (26 October 2025) Be humble

 

30C Sunday Homily, Luke18:9-14, October 26, 2025

By Father Vincent Corbelli, MM

 

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.