Pastor's Spiritual Reflections

By Fr. Leo Schneider (9/2/2007)

Dear People of Holy Name,

The scriptures speak of humility; the state of being humble. Being humble is not being arrogant or haughty. It may be putting one’s self in deference to another or recognizing one’s self as lower in a given hierarchy. On the other hand, being humble is not a form of self-abuse, where one is always putting one’s self down for others.

I think the best way to think of humility is being down-toearth. The word itself comes from the Latin humus meaning earth. Sometimes it is wise to take the lowest place at the table so the host can call you up to a higher place, but then there are also times where there is no host and one must stand up for one’s self in justice. So perhaps humility is knowing your place and taking it honestly without arrogance.

True giving also comes from the same place in the heart. Jesus talks about inviting the lame and the cripple and not family and friends. I think his point is that we are to give, not as a way to receive in return, but to give as a form of self-sacrifice. Some people get this. I think most parents do, but there are some young adults who think it’s all about them. Our materialistic culture teaches this with every ad we see, from hair-spray to cars.

Knowing Christ is what keeps us grounded. He stood up for truth and justice, raising the humble, exalting the lowly and challenging the powerful. When we hear his story there is a part of us that resonates with it because we get his logic. Somehow we know what Jesus teaches and how he lived is right, and to live like him is the best and healthiest thing we can do. Embracing his values and living as he lived is more fulfilling than living for one’s self.

As we go through this week,, let us keep our eyes and ears open and listen for those messages from our culture that run counter to what Jesus may teach. Then, aware of those messages, we can choose how they will influence our thinking and are desires, if at all. This is also the time to reaffirm the values we believe in, and affirm the choice we make as a living out of our faith and belief in all that Jesus is about.

Prayer will help us listen to Jesus and also sharpen our listening skills, that we may hear and see as Jesus would hear and see, and come to live and act as he would live and act. It may even be interesting to keep a list of those messages, whether in conversations, or on billboards, radio or TV. Then, review them at the end of the week, and consciously choose new messages for ourselves, because those are the messages we will be living and giving to others.

Being humble is walking with the Lord in all things. It is then we will use our gifts and talents wisely, find fulfillment and know the joy that only the Lord can give. Let us pray for this gift to be humble as Jesus was humble, to be as loving as he was loving, and as giving as he was giving. May God bless us in our prayer and in our living, that we may treasure being like him in all things.

May God bless you in his love, Fr. Leo