AUGUST 22, 2026 FATHER ERNESTO DE CICCIO
Jesus is teaching us about humility, one of the most difficult virtues for any of us to practise. Because it’s human nature to want to be recognized, even to receive the honours of society. But are we doing stuff in order to be seen by others, especially when it comes to matters of faith? Our practices of piety are good, but what’s the motivation? Are we doing it to bring honour to God or honour to our own selves?
I always refer to the scene from The Godfather Part II. Most of you have seen that old movie. And there is a scene in New York City when the Black Hand, who was a really bad gangster, is putting a big bill of some kind on the statue of St. Brock or something. And it’s all to be seen by everybody, and they clap for him. And meanwhile, he’s a terrible criminal. Was he bringing glory to God or doing stuff to be seen by others?
In most of our cases, it’s not quite that extreme, is it? But what is it about us that has this hunger for title, for position, for respect? I once had an individual asking me to nominate him for the Order of Ontario. I said to him, “My brother, you don’t ask people to nominate you. If you’re worthy of the honour, the nomination will come. You don’t go seeking for it.”
Of course, we have Jesus as our primary example. Did he come down from heaven to be praised? Did he come down from heaven to be served by everyone? Did he come down from heaven to win prizes or titles? He was the one who washed his disciples’ feet at the Last Supper. He was servant of all, slave of all. He didn’t have to live in a fancy place, have fancy meals, wear fancy clothes.
But people did respect him; those who were not persecuting him, at least, because they saw who he was: the Son of God. Full of love and mercy and compassion. And that was his motivation. Not wanting to be lifted up, except on the cross. Are we able to follow the example of Jesus?
At the end of the Gospel, Jesus says it clearly. “The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
How fitting that we’re getting this reading, actually, on this memorial of the Queenship of Mary. Mary, in our statues, is portrayed wearing a nice crown sometimes. Did she ever wear a crown as she journeyed on earth? No. She was busy about the cooking and cleaning and suffering, because she had to see her son rejected so many times and hated by so many, and hanging on a cross.
Mary is also a model of humility. She simply wanted to do God’s will, not her own. She served Jesus, her son. She became Mother of all believers. And we have her, like her son Jesus, as a wonderful example.
Humility is hard for most of us. It’s so much nicer to have the places of honour in society, maybe because we want to feel more special and important than everybody else. Let’s always look to Jesus. And let’s also look to Mother Mary, who teach us by their words and their example, what it means to be a person of faith. Not calling attention to ourselves. Not needing to be in the headlines, but working silently in the background, even, and leading others to who really is important.
Let’s be careful of this, especially at our churches, where everybody wants to be the head of the Catholic Women’s League and the Knights of Columbus, and the prayer group and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. How I love those people who never hold a particular office but who are just happy to be workhorses, and in their quiet service they bring honour to God.
And in our quiet, not proud service, we, too, will bring honour to God and purify our souls and prepare ourselves for the only reward that matters: life without end in the kingdom of our God, with Jesus, our King, and Mary, our Queen.
