Too Cool for School

Growing in wisdom through the virtue of humility  

Luke 7:36—8:3  

A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner."   

          One of the most sarcastic but also sensible Christian writers is G. K. Chesterton. He saw stuff that people mostly miss. Let me share a small smattering of his ironic insights. For example, he said, “I regard golf as an expensive way of playing marbles.” Kind of makes sense, doesn’t it, and my apologies to all you golf enthusiasts out there. Or consider this statement, “One sees great things from the valley, but only small things from the peak.” That is so true: our valley experiences often open our hearts to great things like our need for God. Spiritually-speaking, we can see God easier from the valley. He also said, “Marriage is an adventure, like going to war.” If you agree, would you please raise your hands?   

          Here’s a quote about war itself. He said, “a true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” Now that’s true, unless the soldier’s name is General George S. Patton; he hated everybody. Here’s one last one, my favorite, “Don’t be so open-minded that your brains fall out.” Do you know anyone who is so open-minded that they don’t have any brains left, they’ve stopped thinking? But what I really like about Chesterton is not that he’s smart and sassy, but rather that he doesn’t take himself so seriously, that is, he’s humble. To be sure, he makes fun of others, but he’s also quick to check his own pride and ego. Chesterton said, “Angels can fly because they take themselves so lightly.”  That is, even the angels are humble.  My friends, I am convinced that only those who are first and foremost humble can be truly wise.

          In the gospel today, we see exactly this conspicuous contrast: the one who thinks he’s smart turns out to be the fool, while the humble person understands far more. Jesus dines at the home of a Pharisee, when suddenly a sinful woman barges in and anoints Jesus’ feet and head. The Pharisee says to himself: “If this man (meaning Jesus) were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Now notice that even though the Pharisee knew what kind of woman this lady was, he has no idea what kind of man Jesus was, that Jesus was the God-man. But the sinful woman, on the other hand, knew exactly who Jesus was. So, let me ask you: how did the scholars and the self-proclaimed saints miss Jesus while the sinful and the simple saw him easily? The first group was haughty, while the second group was humble. The woman in the valley of her sins saw what the Pharisee on the peak of his self-righteousness missed. You see, it is only those who are first and foremost humble who can be truly wise.   

          My friends, let me invite you to cultivate the virtue of humility, that is, don’t be too smart for your own good; avoid being “too cool for school” because you think you know everything. When I was first ordained a priest I felt I had to have the answer for every question. It was very awkward and embarrassing for me to say, “I don’t know.” Now, however, those words come a lot easier, mostly because I’ve had a lot of practice saying them. Spend time with small children, who happily point out your faults and failings, like the little boy in the fable who yelled, “The emperor has no clothes!” Little children keep us humble. Go to confession and tell another human being your sins and stupidity. The great good of confession is growing in the virtue of humility. Try ice skating with the church youth group, and fall on your “back side.” Laugh at yourself, and let others laugh at your too. Explain how to operate an Iphone to your teenager. Yeah. Apologize to your spouse and children when you make a mistake, and don’t pretend to be perfect. They already know you’re not.   

          Do you know the origin of the word “humble”? It comes from the Latin word, “humus,” which means ground or earth. The sinful woman in the gospel stayed humbly on the ground, the “humus,” while she anointing and kissed Jesus’ feet. Chesterton said, “One sees great things from the valley, but only small things from the peak.” Only the humble are truly wise.   

          Let me conclude with a few lines from Tim McGraw’s popular song called, “Humble and kind.” He sings: “Hold the door, say please, say thank you, Don't steal, don't cheat, and don't lie I know you got mountains to climb but, Always stay humble and kind, When the dreams you're dreamin' come to you, When the work you put in is realized, Let yourself feel the pride but, Always stay humble and kind.” In other words, when you get to the mountain peak, don’t forget what you learned while you were in the valley: stay grounded, stay humble. You know, if I didn’t know any better, I’d almost think Tim McGraw has been reading some books by G. K. Chesterton.   

          Praised be Jesus Christ!