August 31, 2025
August 31, 2025
Homily Starters Anecdotes Preaching Illustrations
Homily Starters Anecdotes Preaching Illustrations
- Ordained in 1967
- Started the “Scriptural Homilies” ministry in 2003 while serving as a chaplain
- Applied scientific methodology to homily ministry+ Reached hundreds of priests and Deacons through word-of-mouth, eventually reaching the Vatican Radio website and four other websites
- Distributed weekly homilies to nearly 3000 priests and Deacons via direct email
- His commentary and reflections were posted on the Vatican News website for several years.
Sunday and Daily Homily Resources
- Eight Minute Homily
- Introduction
- Scripture Summaries
- Exegesis
- Life Messages
- Homily Starter Anecdotes
- Jokes of the Week
Fr. Tony’s
Jokes of the
Week
Winston Churchill was once asked, “Doesn’t it thrill you to know that every time you make a speech, the hall is packed to overflowing?” “It’s quite flattering,” replied Sir Winston. “But whenever I feel that way, I always remember that if instead of making a political speech I were being hanged, the crowd would be twice as big.”
George Washington Carver, the scientist who developed hundreds of useful products from peanuts, once told this story about himself. “When I was young, I said to God, ‘God, tell me the mystery of the universe.’ But God answered, ‘That knowledge is reserved for Me alone.’ So I said, ‘God, tell me the mystery of the peanut.’ Then God said, ‘Well, George, that’s more nearly your size.’ And He told me.”
Christian Herter, a former governor of Massachusetts, once arrived hungry at a church barbecue after a busy day of campaigning. In the serving line, he asked the woman serving chicken for an extra piece. She refused, citing the one-piece-per-person rule. Herter revealed his identity as the governor, hoping for special treatment. The woman, unimpressed, identified herself as the “lady in charge of the chicken” and told him to move along, maintaining her strict chicken policy.
- HOMILY ANECDOTES
- THEME:
TRUE HUMILITY - Humily in Daily Life
22nd Sunday of Year C
ACADEMY OF SOCIAL COMPETENCY (10:08) – This clip refers to the Manners and Etiquette lesson which is part of the 1947 Genius of Communication online learning course ,
The anecdote highlights Emily Post's advice for a "perfect formal dinner," including congenial guests, a lovely setting, and a proper seating chart based on honor and status.
- What do you think is the primary goal of Emily Post's etiquette? What kind of world do these rules try to create and maintain?
- The text mentions rules for meeting the Pope or dining at the White House. Why do societies create such specific protocols for interacting with the powerful and prominent? What message does this send about who is important?
- Emily Post's recipe for a perfect dinner includes "guests who are congenial." Jesus' recipe seems to invite chaos by bringing together people from completely different walks of life. What are the benefits and drawbacks of each approach?
- Jesus first gives advice to the guests: "do not sit down at the place of honor." What is he teaching about humility? How does this directly challenge the idea of a seating chart and our natural desire for recognition?
- Next, Jesus gives radical advice to the host: "invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind." Why these specific groups? What do they represent in society, both then and now?
- Jesus says the host who does this will be blessed because these guests "cannot repay you." How does the concept of repayment (or networking, social climbing, returning a favor) influence who we invite into our homes and lives today?
Let's bring these two conflicting ideas into our modern lives. The text concludes that at God's party, the guests of honor are "people who have distinguished themselves only by their need."
- Our society, like Emily Post's world, honors celebrities, dignitaries, and the wealthy. How can we, in our daily lives, begin to see "need" as a mark of distinction and honor? What does that look like in practice?
- Is there any room for "good manners" and traditional etiquette in Christian hospitality? Can we have both a "lovely table setting" and a guest list that reflects Jesus' priorities? Where might these two values come into conflict?
- Think about the "tables" in your life—your actual dinner table, your church community, your workplace, your social circles. Who is consistently missing from those tables? Who would Jesus explicitly invite that you currently are not?
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22nd Sunday of Year C
Free Sunday Graphics for Church Bulletins, Presentations and Websites
Over 200 FREE bulletin images, graphics and artwork that are related to the Sunday readings. Permission is granted for any non-profit ministry to use them. Right click on image and click on “Save As…. Please, provide a link and/or shoutout to the WORD THIS WEEK website.
Definitions of Humility
22nd Sunday of Year C
St. Teresa of Calcutta
Mother Teresa’s list can be understood as a balanced practice across three interconnected areas: our inner mindset, our outward actions, and where we direct our focus. This chart illustrates the equal importance of each pillar in the holistic pursuit of humility.
22nd Sunday of Year C
1967 Groundbreaking Film
This might not be such a big deal today, but in 1967 to present a positive representation of a controversial subject like interracial marriage in the United States of America was bold. Bold because, historically, interracial marriage was illegal in most states and was still illegal in 17 states until June 12, 1967. This movie presents a cultural taboo of that time, and it does so around the dinner table — because who’s at the table says something about who’s in and who’s out. The table is not only where one may say grace; it is the space where one extends grace as Jesus instructs in today’s Gospel. (Rev. Luke A. Powery).
22nd Sunday of Year C
Humility of Pope Francis
ASSOCIATED PRESS (1:58) – Pope Francis put his humility on display during his first day as pontiff Thursday, stopping by his hotel to pick up his luggage and pay the bill himself in a decidedly different style of papacy than his tradition-minded predecessor. (March 14, 2013)
Just after his election to the Papacy, Pope Francis demonstrated and defined the practice of humility, not by his words but by his actions. After his election to the papacy, Francis turned down the Vatican limousine ride, instead taking the minibus back over to the hotel with his brother Cardinals. At the hotel, he gathered his luggage, thanked each member of the staff, and paid his own bill. He did not pass off these seemingly meaningless tasks to a papal aide.
It was not as if he had nothing to do! Francis, this humble servant of the Lord, remained Francis, humble servant of the Lord, even after being elected head of the Roman Catholic Church. His humility was not so much a series of individual actions or practices as it was a way of life for him, as a Jesuit priest, archbishop, cardinal, and pope.
22nd Sunday of Year C
The Overflowing Cup
An old story is told about someone who is searching for the meaning of life who wanders into the hut of a holy hermit in a forest. The hermit offers his guest tea and keeps pouring tea into the cup until it is overflowing. The guest watched the overflow until he could no longer restrain himself. “Stop! The cup is full. No more will go in.” And then the hermit replied, “Like this cup, you are full of your own opinions, preconceptions, and ideas. How can I teach you unless you first empty your cup?”
That is a wonderful story about humility, which is esteemed by many religious traditions. Dante in The Divine Comedy thought of humility as the most important virtue. Humility is radical dependence upon and trust in God.
22nd Sunday of Year C
Fr. Tony’s Introduction
22nd Sunday of Year C
The common theme of today’s readings is the need for true humility which leads to a generous, blessed sharing with the needy. The readings warn us against all forms of pride and self-glorification. They present humility not only as a virtue but also as a means of opening our hearts, our minds, and our hands to the poor, the needy, the disadvantaged, and the marginalized of society. For Jesus, the daily human needs of the poor are the personal responsibility of every authentic, humble believer. In addition, humility is the mother not only of peace, but also of many virtues, like obedience, fear, reverence, patience, modesty, meekness, and gentleness.
The first reading, taken from the book of Sirach, reminds us that if we are humble, we will find favor with God, and others will love us. Today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 68) shows us God’s eternal awareness of the least of His children.
The second reading, taken from Hebrews, gives another reason for us to be humble contrasting the Old Testament God of Power and majesty with the New Testament God’s Only-begotten, now Incarnate Son, Jesus, who has appeared to us humbly, invitingly, and festively in this glorified community of Christ and the Father, the angels, and all the saved in the new heavenly Jerusalem. The Incarnate Son of God humbled Himself, taking on human flesh and living our lives so that he might die to save us. He invites his followers to learn how to live from him because he is “meek and humble of heart.” Paul reminds us that Jesus was lowly, particularly in his suffering and death for our salvation (Heb 2:5-18), so we should be like him that we may be exalted with him at the resurrection of the righteous. Paul seems to imply that we have to follow Christ’s example of humility in our relationships with the less fortunate members of our society.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus explains the practical benefits of humility, connecting it with the common wisdom about dining etiquette (see Prv 25:6-7; Sir 3:17-20). Jesus advises the guests to go to the lowest place instead of seeking places of honor so that the host may give them the place they deserve. Jesus’ words concerning the seating of guests at a wedding banquet should prompt us to honor those whom others ignore, because if we are generous and just in our dealings with those in need, we can be confident of the Lord’s blessings. On the other hand, if we act out of pride and selfishness, we can be sure that our efforts will come to nothing.
22nd Sunday of Year C
Humility is grounded in a psychological awareness that everything we have is a gift from God, and, therefore, we have no reason to boast. We must not try to use these God-given gifts to elevate ourselves above others.
Hence, humility means the proper understanding of our own worth. It requires us neither to overestimate nor to underestimate our gifts and limitations.
The humility that the Gospel urges upon us has nothing to do with a self-deprecation that leaves a person without proper self-esteem. We must simply admit the truth about ourselves: we do not know everything, we do not do everything correctly, and we are all imperfect sinners.
Nevertheless, we also recognize that we are made in the image and likeness of God, and that we are called to help build the kingdom of God with our God-given gifts. We are not of value because of those gifts but because we are loved by God as His children and so have been redeemed by the precious blood of His son Jesus.
The quality of humility that Jesus is talking about has a sociological dimension too. For Jesus is inviting us to associate with the so-called “lower classes” of society — even the outcasts. Jesus invites us to change our social patterns in such a way that we connect with the homeless, the handicapped, the elderly, and the impoverished — the “street people” of the world – with agápe love.
Let us pray for humility because it is the only way to charity. Humility and charity are intrinsically linked: the height of one’s charity is equal to the depth of one’s humility. Let us remember that Lord’s banquet is all about charity. The one who loves and gives the most receives the highest spot.
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