22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
Sunday August 28, 2022
Mass Readings for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
- First Reading – Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29: “Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.”
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 68: “God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.”
- Second Reading – Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24A: “You have not approached that which could be touched and a blazing fire and gloomy darkness and storm and a trumpet blast and a voice speaking words such that those who heard begged that no message be further addressed to them.”
- Gospel – Luke 14:1, 7-14: “Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.”
Themes for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
The readings for 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C help us think about the order of things in the Kingdom of God. In the first reading we are encouraged to act with humility. The psalm praises God’s care for those on the margins. In the second reading Paul speaks of the heavenly Jerusalem, a wondrous place. In the gospel Jesus advises that we should not exalt ourselves, but should associate with the poor and under-served.
- Humility
- Raising others up
- The Kingdom of God
See the Homilies and Reflections section and the More Thoughts section for further expansion on these readings and some reflection questions for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C.
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Resources for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
First or Last Lesson Plan
This lesson plan on humility will encourage youth to consider what it means to be humble. Why is humility crucial to discipleship?
Litany of Humility
This prayer asks Jesus to lead us down the path of humility, wanting to be less than all others around us, so that He might be glorified instead of us.
Humility Prayer
It is hard to put God first when we are focused on ourselves. So this prayer asks for God to help us get rid of the self-centeredness which gets in the way of discipleship.
Homilies and Reflections for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
The Trouble With Honor
From Bishop Robert Barron. The key, Jesus suggests, is to order one’s life so that winning the esteem of God is all that finally matters. Why play to the fickle, unreliable crowd? In all of your thoughts, words and actions, play to the divine audience–and you will find liberation and joy.
The Hopeful Vision of Mass
Also from Bishop Barron. The Letter to the Hebrews is a sustained reflection on the Mass as the source and summit of the Christian life and the pivot around which history turns. Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross is the sacrifice that has and will restore the communion between God and creation. As a re-presentation of this act, the Mass makes present to us our final destiny: communion with God through Christ.
To Go up Higher
From Scott Hahn. We come to the wedding banquet of heaven by way of humility and charity. This is the fatherly instruction we hear in today’s First Reading, and the message of today’s Gospel.
All About Humility
Jeff Cavins reflects that we like a good seat. We often arrive early so we can sit where we like.
Ignatian Detachment
Also from Bishop Robert Barron. What St. Ignatius learned at Manresa is that our attachments to various created goods—money, power, pleasure, and honor—stand in the way of our responding to God’s will for us.
We Are Not Cosmic Accidents
Fr. Mike Schmitz says we often misunderstand humility because we think it involves thinking less of ourselves. What it really involves is greater focus on God’s power and goodness, because he is the source of whatever power and goodness we have.
More Thoughts for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
In Jesus’ day, a banquet was a way to show off wealth. Having a bounty of food for the guests showed that you were a person of means. They also displayed one’s social standing, especially since they were too large to hold indoors. Everyone could see who was in attendance. Important guests indicated that the host was also important. And these guests were given a good seat, so they could see and bee seen.
In turn, it was expected that these important guests would return the favor and invite the hosts to their homes. In doing so both host and guest would be honored again. And so the cycle continued.
The poor and disadvantaged had no place in this way of doing things. They would not bring status to the host who invited them. And they certainly couldn’t repay the favor. So those who had little were left on the outside of the banquet, looking in.
Jesus invites all of us to his banquet. In fact he always seems to go out of his way to bring in those who are on the fringes of society. We are all important guests. In the same way, we must follow his example and reach out to those who seem to be left out our pushed aside, whether in our families, our communities, or our churches.
Reflection Questions for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
- Is there any group of people whom I would prefer not to associate with?
- What abundance do I have in my life which I can offer to others?
- How have I included someone on the outside recently?
Quotes and Social Media Graphics for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place.
For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
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