(Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29; Psalm 68; Hebrews 12:18-19,22-24a; Luke 14:1,7-14)

Last weekend, on the Bank Holiday Monday, was the 36th anniversary of my family arriving down south to join me.  We moved into a house just across the road from St Michael’s Church in Tadley.  At milestones in life, we often think back at how we were at the time and how much things have changed since.  36 years ago we were a young couple setting out on an adventure, we had a baby girl who would soon be two years old and we had left behind our families in Scotland.  For me that was my parents, my two brothers and at the time I still had all four grandparents.  Growing up my parents and grandparents lived in the same area, so I would often see my maternal Grandmother (Granny Peggy) every day and my paternal Grandmother (Granny Maggie) a couple of times a week.  In my family I was the eldest grandson for both families, and they all lavished me with love.  Growing up both grandmothers would ensure that I had lots of presents at Christmas from my parents’ brothers and sisters, and when my brothers came along, they benefitted from this too until the rest of my aunts and uncles started having children of their own.

It was drummed into me about how important being the eldest was as my dad was an eldest son and my mum was the eldest daughter.  With the privileges granted to the eldest there came responsibility, I was expected to work hard at school, not get into trouble and look out for my younger brothers and cousins, setting a good example.  For me it was a loving environment and although my parents and grandparents were not well off, we wanted for very little.  I look back fondly at those times.  They made me feel really special and seeing how hard they all worked has had a lasting impression on me.

In many cultures being the first-born son secures rights and privileges, it is seen as carrying on the name, often they will inherit more than other siblings, even elder sisters.  Today in the western world we are gradually seeing the value in every person, but still there are injustices, in the workplace for example where despite legislation over several decades there are still cases where women are being paid less for doing the same work as men.  

In today’s readings we are asked to look at our behaviours.

How do we treat other people? 

Do we think of ourselves as better than other people? 

In the first reading from the Book of Sirach, we are encouraged to be humble in our dealings with other people as this will find favour with the Lord.  It warns against the sin of pride; saying there is no cure, calling it an evil growth. 

The humble person remembers their true place in life – a life which is only possible by the will of God – the humble person is more likely to think of others, more likely to see the message behind parables and more likely to listen and react when they hear the voice of wisdom.

The psalm used today turns upside down the supposed wisdom of man, it is crying out that those who may appear to be downtrodden or weak with little to celebrate will be celebrating more when they reach the presence of God.  God isn’t preparing a home for the rich; he has already prepared a home for the poor.

When we reach that home the 2nd reading tells us we will be treated like first born sons, earlier I said how special I felt because of the way my parents and grandparents; who scrimped and saved for everything; looked after me, because I was an eldest son.

How much more special will we feel when God treats us as first-born sons? 

That is the message in today’s second reading. We will all be treated as first born sons when we reach Paradise, we will be placed beside the spirits of the saints who have been made perfect and to Jesus who has secured a new covenant for all who believe.

Our Gospel from St Luke tells us how we can secure our place in Paradise. We are not to take anything for granted, we are not to put ourselves first, we are to serve not expect to be served. We are not to assume we are more important than anyone else, after all God wants to treat us all as first-born sons.

There is even a lesson on how we should entertain, when we host a party. We are encouraged to invite those who are poor, crippled, lame and blind as they cannot pay us back.  Jesus says it is a blessing for us that they cannot pay us back as our reward is in heaven.

How often do we do this? 

If we are thinking in worldly terms, I would say that I am guilty of not doing this as often as I should, but as Christians we shouldn’t just think about the poor, crippled, lame and blind in worldly terms.  What about the poor in faith? Or those deaf to the Word of God?  What about our friends who are crippled by inaction or our family who offer lame excuses for no longer coming to Mass?  What about those who live for themselves and are blind to the suffering around them?  We invite them to our home, don’t we? 

If we can welcome them into our homes; with no expectation of a reciprocal invitation; then we have a chance to convince them to change their ways through the example we give, by our kindness, by our love and by our perseverance, this can give us hope that we will receive payment when the virtuous rise again.  

The Season of Creation starts with a World Day of Prayer for Creation on the 1st September and runs until the Feast Day for St Francis of Assisi on October 4th. In his message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation 2025 , Pope Leo XIV writes that “now is the time to follow words with deeds….By working with love and perseverance, we can sow many seeds of justice and thus contribute to the growth of peace and the renewal of hope.” This is something which we all must be involved in. We all live in the world God created, we are all stewards in looking after the little bits of the world we have. If everyone did their bit, then the world would not be in the crisis it is currently going through. We might think that our bit won’t make a difference, but if everyone thought that then nothing would happen. It starts to start somewhere, why not with us?

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church[1]

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 525-526: the Incarnation as a mystery of humility
CCC 2535-2540: the disorder of concupiscence
CCC 2546, 2559, 2631, 2713: prayer calls for humility and poverty of spirit
CCC 1090, 1137-1139: our participation in the heavenly liturgy
CCC 2188: Sunday lets us share in the festal assembly of heaven

Please keep in your prayers this week

  • Those who are sick, housebound or in hospital, that the care they receive matches all of their needs.
  • All those on holiday or who are travelling, that they have a safe trip and re-charge their batteries.
  • Those waiting for the results of medical tests, examinations or scans, that the results can pinpoint the treatment they may need; or alleviate their fears.
  • Our Pastoral Area as we continue to take the first steps towards moving from Maintenance to Mission.
  • Peace in the world, and a de-escalation of the situations where war has already commenced or appears to be inevitable.
  • Fr Patrick as he reaches his retirement, may God bless him for his many years of service.
  • Fr Stephen as he prepares to come to the pastoral area and for the parishioners and relationships he leaves behind
  • That a way to feed the starving in Gaza can be found that is fair and does not pose a danger to those who are starving or the aid workers.

Deacon Tony

29th August 2025.

[1] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments