Daily Mass Readings – Sunday, 3 September 2028

17 My son, do thy works in meekness, and thou shalt be beloved above the glory of men.

18 The greater thou art, the more humble thyself in all things, and thou shalt find grace before God:

20 Seek not the things that are too high for thee, and search not into things above thy ability: but the things that God hath commanded thee, think on them always, and in many of his works be not curious.

28 The heart of the wise is understood in wisdom, and a good ear will hear wisdom with all desire. A wise heart, and which hath understanding, will abstain from sins, and in the works of justice shall have success.

29 Water quencheth a flaming fire, and alms resisteth sins:

R. (11b) God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.

4 Let the just feast, and rejoice before God: and be delighted with gladness.

5 Sing ye to God, sing a psalm to his name, make a way for him who ascendeth upon the west: the Lord is his name. Rejoice ye before him: but the wicked shall be troubled at his presence,

R. God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.

6 Who is the father of orphans, and the judge of widows. God in his holy place:

7 God who maketh men of one manner to dwell in a house: Who bringeth out them that were bound in strength; in like manner them that provoke, that dwell in sepulchres.

R. God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.

10 Thou shalt set aside for thy inheritance a free rain, O God: and it was weakened, but thou hast made it perfect.

11 In it shall thy animals dwell; in thy sweetness, O God, thou hast provided for the poor.

R. God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.

18 For you are not come to a mountain that might be touched, and a burning fire, and a whirlwind, and darkness, and storm,

19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words, which they that heard excused themselves, that the word might not be spoken to them:

22 But you are come to mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the company of many thousands of angels,

23 And to the church of the firstborn, who are written in the heavens, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made perfect,

24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new testament, and to the sprinkling of blood which speaketh better than that of Abel.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

29ab Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

1 And it came to pass, when Jesus went into the house of one of the chief of the Pharisees, on the sabbath day, to eat bread, that they watched him.

7 And he spoke a parable also to them that were invited, marking how they chose the first seats at the table, saying to them:

8 When thou art invited to a wedding, sit not down in the first place, lest perhaps one more honourable than thou be invited by him:

9 And he that invited thee and him, come and say to thee, Give this man place: and then thou begin with shame to take the lowest place.

10 But when thou art invited, go, sit down in the lowest place; that when he who invited thee, cometh, he may say to thee: Friend, go up higher. Then shalt thou have glory before them that sit at table with thee.

11 Because every one that exalteth himself, shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.

12 And he said to him also that had invited him: When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor thy neighbours who are rich; lest perhaps they also invite thee again, and a recompense be made to thee.

13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind;

14 And thou shalt be blessed, because they have not wherewith to make thee recompense: for recompense shall be made thee at the resurrection of the just.

Scripture places humility at the heart of life with God. The greater a person is, the more deeply he is called to humble himself, because God’s greatness is revealed in mercy rather than self-exaltation. Jesus makes this concrete at the table: the desire for the first place exposes the hunger to be noticed, while the lower place leaves room to receive honor as a gift rather than seize it.

That same humility opens the door to others. God is the Father of orphans and defender of widows; he makes a home for the poor. Jesus therefore tells his host to prepare a feast for those who cannot repay him. Christian hospitality cannot be governed by status, usefulness, or recognition. We belong to the heavenly Jerusalem through Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and his meek heart teaches us how to live there already. A quiet act of generosity, an honest willingness to take a lesser place, or attention given to someone overlooked can become an offering God remembers at the resurrection of the just.

Lord Jesus, meek and humble of heart, free me from the need to be honored or repaid. Teach me to receive my place with gratitude and to make room for those whom the world overlooks. Give me a wise and listening heart, faithful to what you command, and generous in works of mercy. May your Church become a true home for the poor through the care and welcome of your people. Keep me close to you, mediator of the new covenant, until I share in the joy of the heavenly Jerusalem. Amen.