There’s an old saying that “the bigger they are, the harder they fall.” In other words, the more important or powerful a person is, the more difficult it is for them when they lose their power or importance. This is especially true when the power and importance that a person has only serves to inflate their ego, and causes them to see themselves as more important than they really are.
It’s easy to think of Hollywood celebrities when we think about this kind of egoism, but sadly, we in the Church are not immune. It is this false sense of power and authority that has led many in the church to take advantage of the poor and vulnerable. Each time these types of revelations come to light, the Church is wounded: especially when others in the Church try to dismiss or minimize the claims to save face and protect their own egos.
No one likes to be publicly humiliated, but sadly, this type of humiliation comes when we fail to recognize our proper place in the world, and in God’s economy of salvation. When we make ourselves out to be bigger than we are, we inevitably will be knocked down a few rungs, and will be forced to suffer the humiliation of “falling from grace.” This is why Jesus’ words about humility in today’s Gospel are so important. To practice the virtue of humility helps us to recognize our place in the world. It helps us to avoid the temptation to make ourselves out to be more important than we really are. The virtue of humility helps us to get outside of ourselves, and to recognize that we do not live in our own little world. It helps us to become more aware of the needs of others around us, and to respond to those needs in generosity and kindness.
It is this generosity and kindness that Jesus asks us for in our daily lives. We do not serve others to call attention to ourselves, or to make ourselves look great. St. Teresa of Calcutta was a master of practicing this type of generosity and humility. Even though she attracted a large following by her way of life, it was never about her. It was always about the poor, and her call to be of service to them. If all of us could live by the example of this saintly woman, imagine the difference we could make in the world!
As we journey throughout this week, I invite you to spend some time in prayer, asking God to help you to practice the virtue of humility more in your own life, and to recognize that everything we do, we do for the greater glory of God.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Steven Huber, CSB