by Msgr. Joseph Calise
In 1955, Jock MacGregor played the character Morris Fink.
If that makes sense to you, you must be a genuine Honeymooners fan. Morris Fink was the Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler of Ralph Kramden’s Lodge, the Raccoons (or, as Norton would call him, the “Emperor of all Raccoondom.”)
In one particular episode, Ralph receives a visit from Mr. Fink who invites him to sit at the dais and be prepared to say a few words at the Raccoon of the Year Dinner.
Ralph immediately begins to prepare his “few words.” After all, winning the award was a great honor, and he had to be prepared to accept it humbly.
Predictably, Ralph is surprised when he receives another visit from the Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler – a visit during which he hands Ralph the text he is supposed to read as he presents the award to his best pal, Norton.
Ralph’s presumption that he was to receive the award made sense. After all, he was invited to the dais, and he was invited to be ready to say a few words. Although he was convinced he deserved the award based on the information he had, he did not have all the information and ended up a little embarrassed because of the presumption.
The humor of this episode comes from the audience’s ability to identify. We can probably all find some moment when we were upstaged, came in second or simply did not make the cut when we expected to win.
In 1976, I was privileged to begin my theology studies at the Gregorian University while living at the North American College. in Rome. Pope Paul VI had promised an audience to the American College in honor of the bicentennial but had to delay it until the fall.
Fortunately for us, that meant my classmates and I would be able to attend. One of the upper classmen wanted to be sure to get a good seat so he left for the audience hall before the rest of us and secured a place at the front of the line. A few minutes before the Holy Father was ready to greet us, the Swiss Guards opened the doors – the back doors. This hopeful seminarian not only lost his place at the front of the line but was now at the extreme back of the line. This caused a panic which resulted in his racing through the line trying to get a better spot. It worked but not as well as he had hoped, and his disappointment was obvious.
Those at the back of the line, who were simply grateful to be there, were called up higher and given a special place in the hall.
The Gospel is about presumption and the belief that we are somehow entitled to special honors. Christ does not tell the man that it is wrong to sit in a higher place; He tells him to wait until he is invited there.
The real honor is not in the seat but in the invitation to “come up higher,” and the request that you cede a place of honor to another might cause enough embarrassment to overcome the joy of having been invited at all.
It is often mentioned at award shows, like the Academy Awards and the Emmys, that it is an honor just to be nominated.
However, now that split-screen technology is used so that you can see the faces of all the nominees when the winner is announced, it is clear that some do not share that opinion.
When we see an award as owed to us rather than freely given, we set ourselves up for great hurt and disappointment. Entitlement teaches that good things come to us because of who we are – not because of God’s beneficence.
As Pope Francis points out (often while speaking to his priests and bishops), when we feel more deserving than blessed, something is wrong. When entitlement overcomes gratitude, everyone gets hurt.
After the initial shock wore off and Ralph realized that his role at the Raccoon dinner was to present the real Raccoon of the Year, his buddy Norton, he began to think about what a good choice Ed was. His humiliation became a joyful humility because his love for his friend was stronger than his presumption.
There is nothing wrong with honors – but they should be bestowed not presumed.[hr]
Readings for the 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time
Sirach 3: 17-18, 20, 28-29
Psalm 68: 4-5, 6-7, 10-11
Hebrews 12: 18-19, 22-24A
Luke 14: 1, 7-14[hr]
Msgr. Joseph Calise is the pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish, Williamsburg.
