Today’s question is related to a fairy tale – a fairy tale that may be the best known of all the ones we learned as children. You don’t need to answer this question out loud but only to yourself. My question is this: Do you suffer from the “Cinderella Syndrome?”
You do remember the story of Cinderella, don’t you? About the young girl, her wicked step-sisters, her fairy god-mother, her glass slipper, and her Prince Charming who rescued her from her life among the ashes. On the other hand, you may not be as familiar with the condition called: the “Cinderella Syndrome.” This condition, this syndrome, arises if you take to heart only the first part of today’s gospel reading.
In today’s gospel, Jesus told two parables – two stories he wanted his listeners to reflect upon. His listeners were scribes and pharisees gathered together for a large banquet. Jesus had observed how each one, upon arriving at the party, tried to get the major place of honor at the table. And so, he told them the story about a man who had shoved himself into the best place at the table. The host, however, ordered him to move to the lowest place so that a better man, who had also been invited, could sit there. In the process, the pushy guy would look like a fool. The one who was really entitled to it, would now have his rightful place at the table. And everyone would know he really deserved it. Jesus concluded his story with a variation of an old proverb when he said: “ … everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
And this is what leads to the “Cinderella Syndrome” – the condition where a person sits among the ashes and does all of the lowly tasks in the expectation that someone, like a Prince Charming, will come with a reward. It’s the condition in which one exhibits “false humility” – calling attention to one’s own lack of worth with the expectation that others will say that this is not true; that you really deserve better than what you are getting.
But Jesus did not promote the idea of a “false humility,” of seeking the lowest position at the table in order to be rewarded and, in the long run, to humiliate someone else. Instead he told a second parable. In his second story, Jesus encourages a host to invite to a party not those who can offer repayment with a return invitation, but rather to invite those who cannot repay: the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind.
If Jesus had stopped telling his story to the pharisees after the first parable, we might be encouraged to fall victim to that “Cinderella Syndrome.” We might believe we should spend our lives sitting around in the ashes, toiling away, just waiting for a Prince Charming to drop by with a glass slipper which would turn us into our true selves: royalty who would live happily-ever-after. But Jesus does not encourage a sense of false humility, of trying to be noticed by not being noticed. Rather he focuses on a sense of true humility.
And what is true humility? It is the ability to know one’s own true self-worth and the self-worth of other human beings and, in the process, to recognize that each one of us has equal worth as a child of God. It is recognizing my own talents and gifts; and the talents and gifts God has given to every other person I meet.
● the beggars who are well-clothed; but need the comfort and warmth of my love.
● the lame who run from every fear; and need the encouragement of my faith.
● the blind who see only despair and anger; yet need the light of my hope.
Jesus urges us to invite these beggars, the lame, the blind to share our love, our faith and our hope.
And why are we to do this? Is it to gain a reward either here on earth or in the hereafter of heaven? Or do we do what we do, because it is the right thing to do, because in our true humility, we acknowledge we are all the same – brothers and sisters of one father – and we are called to share what we have with our brothers and sisters.
● Why do you give a present to your spouse? Do you do it out of love or because you expect something nice in return?
● Why do kids clean up their room without being asked? Do you do it out of love for your parents or because you expect an increase in your allowance?
● Why do you contribute time and money to the poor and homeless? Do you do it out of love for those in need or because you hope it will reduce crime in the streets?
Today’s Gospel Reading does not urge us to put on an attitude of humility in order to gain some pay-back, some power over others. Rather, this gospel, this Good News, encourages us to recognize our equality and our mutual needs. Jesus wants us to help others without asking: what’s in it for ourselves. By not asking: what’s the pay-back? How much do I gain from what I give?
This weekend, and in the days afterwards, we are invited to give of our selves for the sake of others; not because of any expected, personal pay-back, but rather because we are a community of believers. We believe we’re a family – one family with many voices. A family of unity and diversity. Each one of us has God-given talents, gifts given to us by God our Father. We are encouraged to share these talents, these gifts, with others. We are asked not to limit ourselves only to our immediate friends and neighborhood. Rather we are to share these gifts and talents with all those we would invite to be part of the banquet of the Lord.
This weekend we have our Ministry Fair, an opportunity to investigate and to participate in the stewardship of Christ the Good Shepherd. After this Eucharistic celebration at the table of our Lord, you are invited to visit other tables in the Large Hall to see how you might join with others in ministry to all who are, directly and indirectly, part of Christ the Good Shepherd. The informational trifold included with last Sunday’s bulletin, and available at today’s Ministry Fair, identifies some 103 English-language and 30 Spanish-language groups for your consideration.
Last Sunday, Father John encouraged us in our communication with God, with our time devoted to God. Today, all of us are encouraged in our communication with one another with using our talents for the benefit of others. Today, you are encouraged not to sit among the ashes and cinders waiting for your reward because of what you have done; hoping that someone has noticed and will reward you; but rather each one of us is encouraged to seek out how we can invite others to the banquet our Lord has in store for all of us. Come and be part of our Ministry fair and the stewardship of Christ – the Good Shepherd.
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time; August 29, 2004
Sir 3:17-18, 10, 28-29; Heb 12:18-19, 21-24a: Lk 14:1, 7-14