I Am of Little Account

October 3, 2008

Friday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell me, if you know all: Which is the way to the dwelling place of light, and where is the abode of darkness, That you may take them to their boundaries and set them on their homeward paths? Job 38:18-20


Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me. Luke 10:16

Piety

Lord, protect us from the pride expressed by Job. Grant to us the wisdom Job learned from his encounter with you. Help us to not only change our own hearts and minds, but through our actions, also help others to recognize the value of this change.

Study

Once again, the readings echo the call for change (repentance) which we have heard from Luke often in recent weeks. Jesus is an empowering friend. He passes on to us his responsibility for preaching. It is no longer enough for us to change. We also have to encourage others to walk in the ways of the Lord. By this commissioning, our evangelization/action also contains the same implications for those who hear the message.

In Job, we see repentance in action. Job challenged the Lord and the Lord put Job in his place. Job just wanted answers for why he had to suffer. Rather than answer, the Lord did not justify his action before men, but referred to his own omniscience and almighty power. That is the last word. Job is content with this response from his direct encounter with God. So he can now return to the proper attitude of humility and trust in God. Just like the Lord encouraged us to be trusting and dependent upon God (like children), Job returns to that place.

The message in Luke’s Gospel goes beyond the Book of Job difference between God and man. In its place, Jesus introduces an equality of man’s responsibility with Jesus’ mission on earth. There is still judgment – harsh judgment – for those who do not change (repent and turn away from sin). However, the responsibility of being messenger as well as listener is now added to our job description.

Is there is anything more uncomfortable than trying to sit in judgment of another? Jesus is not setting us up as some heaven-on-earth jury pool. He has another way for us to convert people. That way is through our actions which mimic Jesus’ action.

Action

Can we really change our actions and our attitudes? Can we really change others’ actions and attitudes? If so, how?

Like the old song goes, “They will know we are Christians by our love.” Jesus is not asking us to go out into the world as judges. He wants us to go out, like he did, as servant leaders.

In addition to living out the Lord’s ways, we also should consider ways through which we can increase our attitude of humility. In her book, Humility Matters, Sr. Mary Margaret Funk includes an imaginary “interview” with John Cassian, one of the desert fathers. In the dialogue, Cassian enumerates ten steps to increase humility in ourselves:

1. Put to death all desires.
2. Conceal from your wise elder (spiritual advisor) none of your deeds but also none of your thoughts.
3. Do nothing by your own discretion but to do everything according to the elder’s judgment and to listen eagerly and willingly to that elder’s admonitions.
4. In every respect the disciple maintains a gracious obedience and steadfast patience.
5. Neither bring injury on anyone else nor be saddened or sorrowful if anyone inflicts harm on you.
6. Do nothing and presume nothing that neither the general rule nor the example of our forbearers encourages.
7. Being satisfied with utter simplicity and, being an unfit laborer, considering herself worthy of everything that is offered.
8. One does not declare with one’s lips alone that she is inferior to everyone else but actually believes it in the depths of one’s heart.
9. One hold’s one’s tongue and is not loudmouthed.
10. The humble one is not ready and quick to laugh.

In summary, she writes, “Humility is the way of being in the image and likeness of Jesus.”