Humility

Father Paul Pecchie

Humility frees us to maximize our God-given talents, because it frees us from being afraid of what other people will think. The history of art and music is full of examples of this. The true artists worked hard to develop their creative gifts, regardless of the praise or recognition of critics. Many great works in the classical music repertoire, for example, were never even recognized until long after the composer’s death.

 Bach’s great Mass in B Minor, one of the most magnificent musical settings for the Mass of all time, was never even performed during his lifetime. Bach was a Protestant, but since the Mass was Catholic, the work was not permitted to be played in his Protestant church. But the music of that Mass required a small orchestra, and at that time, using orchestras was forbidden in Catholic churches. Likewise, Bach’s “Goldberg’s Variations” is the most successful of all his works in concert performance today. But the kind of concert in which it can be performed did not exist until a hundred years after his death.

Beethoven had a similar experience. In his lifetime the mod ern piano was developed. The first great works to become the staple of serious public piano performances were his thirty-two piano sonatas. But only two of these were actually played in concert during Beethoven’s lifetime.

If Bach and Beethoven had focused their efforts on getting “the place of honor” in the public eye instead of focusing on being true to their calling, these immortal works of art would never have come into existence. Humility doesn’t stifle the human spirit but sets it free.

Jesus wants us to seek true greatness, lasting achievements, and everlasting glory – and He says that to do so we must learn humility.

First, humility admits that it doesn’t know everything: “What is too sublime for you, seek not.” When was the last time we admitted that we didn’t know the answer to a question or a problem? Our fallen nature tends to act like a know-it-all. But that only creates tension and anxiety. This week let’s not be afraid to admit that we don’t know it all.

Second, humility doesn’t insist on doing things its own way – it stays open to other people’s advice and ideas: “An attentive ear is the joy of the wise.” Our fallen nature tends to be bull-headed – we want our own way, or else! But that creates even more tension than the know-it-alls! This week, let’s have “an attentive ear”, so we can experience the “joy of the wise.”

Third, humility serves others instead of demanding to be served: “alms atone for sins.” When we give alms, when we give our time, talents, and treasures to help those in need, we reverse the curse of sin that plagues us and our world. This week, let’s pay as much attention to giving as we do to getting.

But doing all three at once is overwhelming. Jesus is realistic – He knows what we’re made of. Let us ask Him which of these three faces of humility He will tell us – after all, He wants what is best for us even more than we do.