The Gift of Humility

Aug. 31, 2025

Pride is considered to be the mother of all sins. Pride was the sin of Lucifer in Heaven, when he rebelled against God. Pride was the sin of our first parents in the Garden of Eden, when the serpent seduced them into eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, promising that they would become their own gods. Pride is the underlying sin every time we turn from God’s will and plan for us and choose personal sin. We are saying we know what God wants us to do, but that we know better than God. Every time we sin, we are grasping at being our own gods.
   
If pride is the mother of all sins, then humility is the mother of all virtues. And virtue is the topic of our First Reading and our Gospel this Sunday.

Tomorrow, of course, is Labor Day. During the late 19th century, the Labor Movement made great strides in the United States. More and more industries and businesses were unionized and made great progress in workers’ rights. Individual states began honoring these unions and the progress they were bringing to American culture by celebrating with a special day. Eventually, in 1894, Labor Day was declared nationally, but it was for federal workers only. It was another 30 years or so before all states began celebrating Labor Day and it became a national holiday.
   
Internationally, the socialist movement had chosen May Day, May 1, to celebrate the workers of the world. The US chose the first Monday of September to distance itself from the socialists and to not be associated with some of the more radical positions of the socialist movement (rejection of religion and rejection of the idea of private property).
   
Today, Labor Day celebrates not only unions and the progress that they have made, but also the efforts and contributions of all workers. The Church encourages a spiritual dimension to this day, noting that we human beings are co-creators with God in the building up of this world and of culture. The Church has also called for workers’ rights to a just salary, safe work environments,
and the rights of workers to organize and to have a say in their work lives.
   
Have a great day tomorrow, enjoy spending time with family and friends, but remember, each of us is a partner with God in building up the Kingdom in this world.
—Fr. Mike Comer