2026 Cycle A - 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Zeph 2:3; 3:12-13; Ps 146:6c-7, 8-9a, 9b-10; 1 Cor 1:26-31; Matt 5:1-12a

Homily Theme

Two words stand out for me this week and they are both contained in the theme above. In the first reading, it is the Humble and the lowly who are asked to seek the blessings of God. The Psalm response echoes the words Blessed are the poor in spirit; to be poor in spirit is to be truly humble; and the kingdom of heaven will be theirs. In the second reading, Paul emphasizes the fact that it is not by the world’s standards of importance and prestige that God judges. God sees those who are truly humble. They will be like St. Paul and all the Saints: they will only boast in the Lord. In today’s Gospel, the eight Beatitudes are outlined by Jesus. The very first of which, re-affirms the earlier reading. Blessed are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Since this weeks theme is all about humility and the need for us to be lowly and humble in the sight of God.  What is true humility? It is not a poor self image and a woe is me attitude: that could be a psychological problem or a false humility.   Most times, when I have managed to say, or do, something humbling, I have been very proud of it. How about you? It was not a successful demonstration of humility. God has given each one of us special gifts and to deny them is not a humble attitude: to boast about them is not a humble thing either. Whatever we have managed to achieve in life: give the glory to God for it. Don’t be self centered. We all should  try to forget the ‘me’ and strive to think more of the ‘them’ as outlined in the other seven Beatitudes in the Gospel today.

We have the greatest example of true humility in the life of the Blessed Mother. In her Magnificat she says. “My Soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. He has looked upon me in my lowliness.” She, who was without sin saw herself as lowly. All the canonized Saints had great humility. In our own day we have the example of Blessed Mother Teresa, who worked with the poorest of the poor.

I once read a book about a simple priest who walked the streets of Rome dressed in a simple black cassock with a black beret on his head. Most people passed him by without recognizing him. It was Cardinal Ratzinger, later  Pope Benedict XVI.  He who is successor to St. Peter remained a truly humble man.

Several years ago, I prayed for a definition of true humility. it is being aware of your self worth but not your self importance. I am still working on it, this week I will strive a little harder. What about you? Let us all pray that we will be among the remnant that will achieve some measure of true humility and we too will then be Blessed.  Remember the Gospel verse, Blessed are the Poor in spirit, the humble.

Let us all strive for true Humility.