Humility helps

Some catholic comments on the texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today help us develop a practice of humility.

Humble service

The Prophet Ezekiel proclaims the future return of the celebration of the Glory of God in the Temple that is separated from the challenges and failings of secular rulers.

* [43:8] They placed their threshold against my threshold: in preexilic Jerusalem, the Temple and the palace belonged to the same complex of buildings; kings like Ahaz and Manasseh treated it as their private chapel for the religious practices Ezekiel condemns. In the new Israel the Temple is free, even spatially, from civil jurisdiction; cf. 45:7–8. This is an instance of Ezekiel’s broader program to separate the sacred from the secular.

In the Gospel from Matthew, Jesus denounces the outward show of false piety among the teachers of Israel.

* [23:5] To the charge of preaching but not practicing (Mt 23:3), Jesus adds that of acting in order to earn praise. The disciples have already been warned against this same fault (see note on Mt 6:1–18). Phylacteries: the Mosaic law required that during prayer small boxes containing parchments on which verses of scripture were written be worn on the left forearm and the forehead (see Ex 13:9, 16; Dt 6:8; 11:18). Tassels: see note on Mt 9:20. The widening of phylacteries and the lengthening of tassels were for the purpose of making these evidences of piety more noticeable.

Nancy Shirley comments that the readings today focus on our relationship with God and our mutual commitment.

We must look beyond their behaviors to what is the truth – they are NOT the example for us.  Jesus is our example, God is our Father. Those of the earth and the Man-made rules are just that, of the earth.  Our eternal glory is not of this earth, not of earthly standards or examples.

Hugh Whelchel, Executive Director of the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, offers a plan to overcome the spiritual/secular divide in our everyday lives.

Understand that the real distinction in our lives is between righteousness and unrighteousness. Between living in union with Christ, conforming to God’s character and commands (righteousness) and not rebelling against God and his commands. This is not a struggle we will win on the strength of our own labor. We will only win it if we yield to the Holy Spirit working in each one of us. This requires much prayer.Be reminded of what is required of those called to serve in God’s kingdom. The only way to do this is by being in God’s Word. Paul tells Timothy that the Word of God “is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (2 Tim. 3:16)Remind yourself throughout your day that what you are doing at that moment is spiritual.

The meditation of Don Schwager centres on true humility that engenders respect for God and for his ways and inclines us to humility and to simplicity of heart.

A humble person makes a realistic assessment of oneself without illusion or pretense to be something one is not. A truly humble person regards oneself neither smaller nor larger than one truly is. True humility frees us to be ourselves as God regards us and to avoid falling into despair and pride. A humble person does not want to wear a mask or put on a facade in order to look good to others. Such a person is not swayed by accidentals, such as fame, reputation, success, or failure.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 23:1-12 comments that the traditions behind outward signs of devotion are, of course, valid and holy. But we have to make sure that the way we are living matches up with the outward signs of devotion that we display.

The best way to guard our hearts and minds is through the everyday regular practices of prayer, repentance, and service. They may not feel as flashy as brand-new crosses, but that’s okay. As we reach out to Jesus, we’ll find him reaching out to us. Over time, we’ll find ourselves becoming more like him—humble vessels of the Spirit

Friar Jude Winkler discusses the vision of Ezekiel where the Glory of God is reentering the Temple making it real a holy place where God will dwell among his people. The Schools of Rabbi Hillel and Rabbi Shammai taught with the authority of Moses. Friar Jude finds some Jewish exaggeration in the teaching method of Jesus against the over scrupulous attitude of the Pharisees.

The Jewish Virtual Library provides greater insight into the teaching of Hillel and Shammai.

Hillel the Elder’s friendly adversary was Shammai, a native of the Land of Israel about whom little is known except that he was a builder, known for the strictness of his views. He was reputed to be dour, quick-tempered and impatient. Both lived during the reign of King Herod (37-4 BCE), an oppressive period in Jewish history because of the Roman occupation of the Land of Israel. Shammai was concerned that if Jews had too much contact with the Romans, the Jewish community would be weakened, and this attitude was reflected in his strict interpretation of Jewish law. Hillel did not share Shammai's fear and therefore was more liberal in his view of law.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, in his weekly summary, recalls the teaching of Paul Knitter on how Buddhism can help Christians be conduit for the inflow and outflow of the gifts of the Spirit.

Buddhism can help Christians to be mystical Christians . . . to realize and enter into the non-dualistic, or unitive, heart of Christian experience—a way to be one with the Father, to live Christ’s life, to be not just a container of the Spirit but an embodiment and expression of the Spirit, to live by and with and in the Spirit, to live and move and have our being in God.

Practice can help us know that love is not determined by the worthiness of the object. Love is determined by the giver of the love. Spiritual gifts increase with use. Love, compassion, joy, and equanimity will grow as we let them flow. We are simply instruments.

References


(n.d.). Ezekiel chapter 43 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved August 25, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/ezekiel/43
(n.d.). Matthew chapter 23 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved August 25, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/23
(n.d.). Creighton's Online Ministries - Creighton University. Retrieved August 25, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html
(2016, December 8). Overcoming the Sacred-Secular Divide. Retrieved August 25, 2018, from https://tifwe.org/overcoming-the-sacred-secular-divide/
(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 25, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
(n.d.). Saint Rose of Lima, Virgin (Optional Memorial) - Mass Readings and .... Retrieved August 25, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/?utm_content=buffer729ba&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
(n.d.). Hillel and Shammai - Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved August 25, 2018, from https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/hillel-and-shammai
(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archives - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 25, 2018, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/