Fake News

Growing in humility and opening ourselves to wisdom

02/20/2017

Sirach 1:1-10 All wisdom comes from the LORD and with him it remains forever, and is before all time. It is the LORD; he created [wisdom] through the Holy Spirit, has seen her and taken note of her. He has poured her forth upon all his works, upon every living thing according to his bounty; he has lavished her upon his friends.

          We live in a culture that prizes being smart over being sage; we’re enamored with intelligence rather than wisdom. Who doesn’t like watching a game show that dramatically displays human intelligence, like Jeopardy? We boast shamelessly when our children achieve high academic honors, with bumper-stickers on our cars. We notice with delight when someone answers quickly and cleverly, but we’re bored with those who are slow and thoughtful, who take time to think. We’ve built modern personal assistants, like “Google Home” or “Alexa” or “Watson” to be super-smart but how high do they score on the scale of wisdom?  These things are not bad, of course, they are just one sided.

          Recently, I’ve enjoyed reading a book by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, which was really an interview between him and journalist Peter Seewald. No one will argue Pope Benedict is one of the leading intellectual lights of the Church in the 20th century: the dude is super-smart. But what jumps out in the book, called Last Testament, is the pope’s wisdom shining forth in his humility. Several times Seewald invites the pope to brag about his credentials and accomplishments (which you and I would have jumped at), but each time the pontiff demurs, and answers humbly. For example, Seewald asks, “Where did you actually learn the many languages [you speak]?” The pope answered, “No, I’m not fluent in many languages actually.” He explained: “I never properly learned Italian, so I’m never entirely sure about the grammar. We had a year of French at school. I tried hard to keep it up, but it was something of a meager foundation. English I learned from vinyl records when I was in Bonn, but it always stayed very feeble. It looks like I know as many languages as God, but this is not the case” (Last Testament, 54-55). In other words, wisdom and humility always walk hand in hand. Only the humble find wisdom.

          The first reading today is taken from the “wisdom literature” of the Old Testament, the book of Sirach. Sirach wants to trace the origins of wisdom and see where it starts. He says of wisdom’s origin: “It is the Lord; he created [wisdom] through the Holy Spirit.” Then he explains how one becomes wise, saying, “He has poured her forth up on all his works, upon every living thing according to his bounty; he has lavished her upon his friends.” That is, ultimately, wisdom is a gift of God, which he gives to his friends, those who are humble. The ironic thing about wise people is they quickly and joyfully acknowledge their ignorance, like Pope Benedict who knew it was silly that some people think he knows as many languages as God. Humility and wisdom always walk hand in hand.

          My friends, we cannot directly grow in wisdom (God gives it as a gift), but we can become more humble, and predispose ourselves for that gift. Here are three suggestions. First, avoid “fake news.” Now, I’m not talking about any fake news in the media or what President Trump complains about; rather, avoid fake news about yourself. Like Pope Benedict gently correct those who exaggerate about our abilities and accomplishments. Archbishop Fulton Sheen once warned that “a proud man counts his newspaper clippings, a humble man his blessings.” Second, develop some thick skin when others poke fun at you, and don’t take yourself so seriously. Have your parishioners do a roast of you – that’ll humble you! Although my roast last Saturday sound more like a eulogy – you were far too nice! Be able to laugh at yourself. And third, be quick to compliment others, especially if they do better than you, even if they are wiser than you. The wise man is always able to see the chinks in his own armor, while he sees everyone else as the “knight in shining armor.” A genuine compliment is a hallmark of a humble heart.

          Micah 6:8 summaries the lifestyle of a humble and wise man saying, “You have been told, O mortal, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.”  First become humble, then you may be wise.

          Praised be Jesus Christ!