Learning the lessons of humility our bodies teach
08/26/2017
Matthew 23:1-12 Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his
disciples, saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on
the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell
you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people's shoulders, but
they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be
seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love
places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in
marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.' As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.'
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your
father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called 'Master'; you have
but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be
exalted."
One of the most beautiful lessons our bodies teach us is
humility. Unfortunately, we are not very good students and we fail to learn
these lessons. Have you noticed how the first ten years of our life are very
similar to the last ten years? What happens in those years? It seems like at
least three basic features can be identified which all help us to be more
humble. First, we lack mobility and others have to carry us around, or push us
in carts or wheelchairs. This is the case in the first ten years and the last
ten years of our life. Second, we don’t
look our best physically: our hair is either coming in or going out; we have
baby fat or sport “love handles”; we’re short in stature because we haven’t hit
our growth spurt or we’re shrinking because our bones are brittle or arthritic.
Third, others have to teach us things; we can’t always believe our brains. Our
minds fail us, as babies and as elderly. These are some ways our bodies help us
to be humble, but we forget where we came from and where we are headed. We
become proud instead.
In the gospel today, Jesus extolls the virtue of humility
and he decries the sin of pride. Jesus uses the Pharisees as an example of
peacock-like pride. He says: “All their works are performed to be seen. They
widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor
at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the
salutation ‘Rabbi’.” In other words, the Pharisees have forgotten the humility
that their bodies taught them as babies, and the same humility they will
experience again in old age. Instead, Jesus says his disciples should be
humble. He therefore adds, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever
humbles himself will be exalted.” One wonderful teacher of humility is our own
body, if only we will be good students and not forget what it teaches us,
especially humility.
This is one virtue that I think Pope Francis really takes to
heart, namely, humility. Look at where he lives, the kind of car he drives, how
he asks people to pray for him. He also wants priests to practice humility, and
that’s why he is not making any more monsignors. Dang! He’s reminding us where we
come from (we were helpless and humble babies once) and where we are going back
to (back to being like babies). Pope St. John Paul II let us share in his old
age by letting us see his Parkinsons and slurred speech, and being confined to
a wheelchair, a permanent “pope-mobile.” How humbling that must have been for
him, who used to run up the mountains; and how pleased Jesus must have been
with him. Take time to visit people in nursing homes and in hospitals because
their bodies are teaching them this precious lesson of humility, and we need to
learn that lesson, too.
“Whoever who humbles himself will be exalted, and whoever
exalts himself will be humbled.” That pattern sounds like the human life cycle
itself: we start off as humble babies, then we exalt ourselves in the prime of
life (the pride of life!), and then we are humbled again in old age. Humility -
exaltation - humility. If only we would embrace this lesson of humility on
earth, will Jesus finally exult us in heaven.
Praised be Jesus Christ!
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