National Seafarers’ Day
First reading: Ez. 18:25–28
Thus says the LORD: You say, “The LORD’s way is not fair!” Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair? When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. But if he turns from the wickedness he has committed, and does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; since he has turned away from all the sins that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
Second reading: Phil. 2:1–11
Brothers and sisters: If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also for those of others.
Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Gospel: Mt. 21:28–32
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.”
In other words
Fr. Raymun J. Festin, SVD (Christ the King Mission Seminary, Quezon City)
During the Greek and Roman times, slaves were treated as objects or properties. They did not enjoy what we modern-day humans call universal human rights, merits, and privileges such as the right to life, the freedom of expression, the right to practice one’s religion, the right to vote, the right to pursue one’s happiness, etc.
These universal principles and values were alien to the unhappy slaves of former times. This explains why slaves were sold and bought as properties, used and abused as objects, or even put to death by the caprice or cruelty of their masters. Those fearsome gladiators who fought and died entertaining and amusing the Roman citizens in Rome’s Coliseum were also slaves.
Slaves were expected to do one thing, and one thing only—obey the wishes and commands of their masters. They were literally “nothing”—devoid or empty of human honor, freedom, and dignity.
It is in the context of the abject condition of slaves during those bygone times that we ought to understand St. Paul’s characterization of Jesus Christ who “emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.”
St. Paul tells us that although Jesus’ nature is divine He assumed the form or substance of a slave and became obedient to death. Jesus humbled himself by voluntarily humiliating Himself—stripping, divesting, and emptying Himself of all divine glory and power.
In other words, He made Himself null and void—or zero.
Pope Francis once said that “the only path to humility is humiliation.” This entails that one becomes humble only by experiencing the cleansing rigor of humiliation.
“Humility is the only way that leads us to God,” Pope Francis further points out. It bears the fruits of conversion (metanoia) and obedience—the habit and practice of humility.
The spirit of humility converted King David, Peter the Apostle, St. Paul, and St. Augustine—to name a few saints who were formerly sinners. The spirit of humility—and contrition—also makes the first son in the parable change his mind and eventually obey his father.
Humility is always a good policy. Everyone likes a cool and humble guy. No one is threatened or intimidated by a humble person.
Of course, how can you feel threatened if the other person regards you as more important, smarter, and better?
Conversely, how can people feel intimidated by you if you regard them as more important, smarter, and better?
The world is full of people walking around with irremediably swollen egos. Somebody said that the bigger your ego is, the smaller you are.