We reflect upon the stories we hear in the Gospels week after week. Many of those stories involve Jesus’ interaction with the people of Ancient Israel, of the meals he shares with them. Biblical Scholar Father Robert Karris from St Bonaventure University in New York humorously states that Jesus ate his way through the Gospels. He writes: “In Luke’s Gospel Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal.” Elsewhere in Luke’s Gospel, the scribes and Pharisees accuse Jesus of being a glutton and a drunkard, trying to discredit him and tear down his ministry. But, since sharing meals with others and inviting others to a meal are important parts of Southern hospitality, we here in Mississippi perhaps understand Jesus’ behavior a bit better than others. Jesus reveals different facets of God’s kingdom to us in the way he shared his meals with sinners, tax collectors, the poor, and the outcasts. In today’s Gospel, as Jesus’ conduct is being observed while he is dining at the home of a leading Pharisee, he presents a parable that addresses the virtue of humility when Jesus sees the Pharisees trying to grab the seat of honor when they sit down for a meal.
If you search the internet for quotes from the saints and different theologians about the virtue of humility, you will be overwhelmed with the many wonderful quotes on humility you find. St Augustine, Bishop of Hippo in Africa from the 5th century, whose feast day we celebrate today, had this to say: "No one reaches the kingdom of Heaven except by humility”. The great Spanish mystic St Teresa of Avila saw humility as essential to our growth in holiness: “Humility must always be doing its work in us like a bee making its honey in the hive: without humility, all will be lost.” Trappist priest Thomas Keating, one of the spiritual fathers of centering prayer, had these profound words to say: “Humility is an attitude of honesty with God, oneself, and of all reality. It enables us to be at peace in the presence of our powerlessness and to rest in the forgetfulness of self.”
Yet, it is Jesus’ journey here on earth that is the greatest example of humility. Jesus emptied himself, becoming a servant. He humbled himself in obedience, even to his death on a cross. Jesus explains in today’s Gospel that we should follow that example. If we try to exalt ourselves, we will be humbled, but if we humble ourselves, we will be lifted up.
We have many examples of humility all around us that can inspire us and encourage us on our journey of faith. These examples come not only from the famous saints whom we honor in our faith, but by those we meet in our everyday lives. I immediately thought of many of the religious sisters I knew when I served as a lay missionary in Ecuador: Sister Gemma, Sister Elena, Sister Julia, Sister Monserrat, Sister Celia, and Sister Rosa. Their names still stay with me after more than 20 years. They served in the jungle as missionary sisters with the poorest of the poor. They never asked for honors or accolades or recognition. They never asked for the comforts many of us in the modern world take for granted. They served in humility, generosity, graciousness, Christian love and charity. They always had an encouraging word for others, making them feel confident in themselves. Their very lives encouraged others on their journey as Catholics. I also thought of Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill who served the poor of Holmes County right here in our Diocese for many years. St Margaret of the School Sisters of St Francis of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and St Paula of the Sisters of Charity of Nazarene, Kentucky served as nurse practitioners, humbly proclaiming Christ’s Gospel through the health care they provided to the poor and the sick and through their compassion and missionary spirit. Sister Margaret and Sister Paula, having been murdered in August of 2016 are remembered fondly throughout our Diocese to this day. The humble spirit of our Christian faith is embodied in the ministry these two religious sisters, overcoming any hatred or violence or anger that tries to drown out Christ’s Good News.
Humility, like the other values of Christ's Gospel, is not just an academic theory we discuss, not something that we can force into our lives. Humility is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, just like faithfulness, charity, and patience. By following the Gospel in our daily lives, by studying, growing, and practicing our faith, values like humility will be fruits of that faith. I love this quote by Franciscan priest Richard Rohr: "(The words) humility and human come from the Latin word, humus, (meaning) dirt. A human being is someone . . . taken out of the dirt. A humble person is one who recognizes that and even rejoices in it!” Humility is called to be an integral part of the earthly, messy reality of our lives. We are called to rejoice in our humble identity as disciples of Christ. We are called to allow God to live in us and fill us with his spirit, to do his will throughout our journey of faith. In our humility, in our humble lives of service, may we always be instruments of God’s peace, goodness, and graciousness.
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