The readings today touch on one of our much-needed virtues as disciples of Jesus: humility. Sirach tells us to conduct our affairs with humility. Do so and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.
As I ponder this essential virtue, I am reminded of a classmate from the seminary. Many afternoons after daily Mass while waiting for dinner to be served, some of us played backgammon in the rec room. Any time Andy was winning, he would sing off key, “Oh Lord its hard to be humble when you are as perfect as me.” I would mutter, “Shut up, Andy and roll the dice.”
I recall an incident years ago when I unintentionally offended a parishioner and as a way of apologizing, I showed up at his home with a blueberry pie, saying that I came to eat humble pie. I imagine there are some former parishioners who feel that I should do that again since I offended them speaking out against the evil of the capitol riots 18 months ago. I did so not to belittle any political party or politician but to challenge us to carry on the works of Christmas as an antidote for confronting that evil. Delivering an unpopular message is the risk every prophet takes.
Once again, Jesus did that. He was a guest in the home of one of the leading Pharisees and the people there were observing him carefully, but that didn’t stop him from speaking his mind. He challenged them, as the saying goes to get off their duff and do something, namely care about those less fortunate than they were.
He told them, “when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
The Pharisees did not conduct their affairs with humility. To the contrary, they were proud of their efforts to keep the many commandments of the Torah, and for that reason, they judged themselves to be holy and assured a place of honor at the banquet in heaven. Meanwhile, they judged every one whom Jesus mentioned to be sinners, hence unworthy of ever being seated at the banquet in heaven, much less in a place of honor.
Their pride hindered them from loving those less fortunate than themselves. In their opinion God rejected these outcasts because of their sins, thus they were crippled in some way. What else would explain their predicament in life for being less than whole?
Jesus wasn’t giving the Pharisees a lesson in etiquette but challenging them to see God’s generous love extends to all peoples. God is a generous host who invites all peoples to his banquet. Jesus stuns his listeners with the revelation that ultimately the beggars and the crippled, the lame and the blind are the ones, not the Pharisees, who are likely to be given places of honor at the heavenly banquet for their lives radiated true humility.
Are we gathered here, fully expecting heaven to be our ultimate destiny? I hope so, but Jesus cautions us not to be so smug. Like the Pharisees, many Christians are quick to judge themselves not by the criteria God has in mind but in contrast to those around them. The drawback of such an attitude is that we can become nonchalant about our need to repent.
Authentic Christian humility is an honest recognition of our true status before God. Humility is a joyful acceptance of our gifts, talents, and abilities as coming from God to make this a better world. Humility inspires us to use these blessings for our own enrichment and for the glory of God, doing our part to bring about the kingdom of God here and now. Imagine how society might be impacted if we as followers of Jesus allowed humility to uproot our arrogance, anger, aggression, avarice and greed.
Rudyard Kipling, author of the Jungle Book, said once at a commencement, “Do not pay too much attention to fame, power, and money. Some day, you will meet a person who cares for none of these, and then you will know how poor you are.” May we have the humility to appreciate just how poor we really are in the sight of God. As Jesus said in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.”
Why is this virtue so important? It is the one virtue Jesus used to describe himself. As we heard in the gospel acclamation, he said, “Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.” Humility means living as Jesus did, not for ourselves, which is what the Pharisees did, but for others. To use our gifts and talents, as Jesus used his, not for our own glory, but for others and their needs. Humble yourself so that God may exalt you for following his son’s advice.