A school of humility 

In this Sunday’s first reading, Ezekiel addresses the Israelite people in exile who are suffering and struggling to make sense of their current circumstances. They blame God for unjustly punishing them. The prophet engages them instead in self-examination, making clear that individuals who appear virtuous but actually commit iniquity are the ones being punished. Further, the one who acknowledges wrongdoing and repents is, in fact, the one who will be saved. 

This Sunday’s responsorial psalm not only celebrates God’s mercy and compassion in such circumstances but makes clear the disposition required for such repentance, namely humility.  “Good and upright is the Lord; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, and teaches the humble his way” (Ps 25: 8-9). 

Paul extends further the importance of humility beyond its role in genuine reconciliation. He forwards its importance in the cultivation of community. “Do nothing out of selfishness or vainglory; humbly… each looking out not for his own interests, but also for those of others” (Phil 2:3-4). Following this advice, he offers the hymn that defines the “humility” of Jesus as that of a servant who ultimately hands over his whole life for the sake of all.  

As this Sunday’s Gospel passage opens, Jesus is speaking to the chief priests and elders who perceive their own influence and importance being challenged and overshadowed by Jesus and his teachings. In the passage immediately preceding this Sunday’s Gospel reading, the chief priests and elders are in the Temple, questioning the source of Jesus’ authority. Jesus does not ignore them or even argue with them. Instead, in this Sunday’s Gospel passage, Jesus tells a parable and asks them for their opinion as to which of two sons did their father’s will — the one who said no but then did go to the field as his father requested or the one who said yes and did not go as his father asked. Now the elders and chief priests seem to know the right answer. They identified the son who said no but actually ended up going and doing the father’s will. Indeed, it takes humility to decide to turn away from self-serving tendencies and do what is right. Might Jesus be inviting them, as well as us, to an honest reflection on the role of humility when it comes to doing what is right in our relationship with others?

For all of us, humility requires liberation from the compulsion to demand being centerstage, to claim a self-importance beyond others, to insist on always having the last word. Instead, humility enables us to acquire a realistic self-understanding and an honest assessment of both our virtues and our shortcomings. This was the self-honesty that Ezekiel attempted to call the exiles to consider. Humility cultivates a kind of freedom that liberates us from what St. Catherine called “the cloud of self-centeredness.” Maintaining such a self-focused blindness actually occasions a great burden. It binds us to having all the answers, always being right, justifying our prerogative to judge others, and yet unaware of our own shortcomings and failings. Humility, on the other hand, not only frees us from pretense but also liberates us in ways that enable us to be a part of community and to be available for the bonds of friendship that make up community.

Often, Jesus told stories offering instructive conclusions that shocked his listeners, both ancient and modern, out of any false sense of self-importance. In this Sunday’s Gospel, he does it again.  Jesus concludes his conversation with these religious officials of high standing by pronouncing that “tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you” (Mt 21:31). While they all heard John the Baptist and the repentance he preached, only the tax collectors and prostitutes responded. 

Paul writes in the Christological hymn that though Jesus’ state was divine, he did not cling to his equality with God. “Rather he emptied himself… coming in human likeness… he humbled himself…” (Phil 2:7-8). Yet, through the humility of his humanity, Jesus disclosed the compassionate and merciful large-heartedness of God. Pope Leo has called for the Church to become “a school of humility.” Thus, let us pray to become a collective manifestation of that virtue before the One who is truly magnificent.  “Great is the Lord and highly to be praised, his greatness is unsearchable.” (Ps 145:3).