Frank R. Fisher, Obl OSB
Humility 09/04/2009
 
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    "The sixth step of humility is that a monk is content with the lowest and most menial treatment, and regards himself as a poor and worthless workman in whatever task he is given, saying to himself with the Prophet, I am insignificant and ignorant, no better than a beast before you, yet I am with you always. - Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 7.

    Hey, that's a challenging statement, isn't it? We live in an age where we are measured by success.  The more money you make, the better person you are! Of course it doesn't seem to matter too much how you make that money. We idealize the rich and the famous. We want the huge house with two Mercedes' in the drive way. Forget about humility, its for the losers.

    Too often the same attitude appears in our churches. We see rich pastors who seem to blab a lot on television about Jesus but seem to care more about money. And the rest of us, hey, we are equally guilty. Every minister wants to think their preaching is unmatched. We want our congregants to gush about our pastoral care, even if it means we eliminate our time with our families to make our congregants proud of us. The list here could go on and on, but confess it, we are just as success driven as everyone else in our society.

    Maybe we all need to do some thinking about the One who told us that the last would be first. He also told us the great ones were the ones who became servants of all.

    Lord, help us to become servants; humbles ones who know our weaknesses and admit our imperfections. Help us to embrace the path of humility and in doing so, follow directly in your way. Amen and Amen
 
 
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"We are thus forbidden to do our own will, since the Scripture saith to us: "And turn away from thy evil will" (Sir 18:30). And thus, too, we ask God in prayer that His will may be done in us (cf Mt 6:10). We are, therefore, rightly taught not to do our own will, when we guard against what Scripture saith: "There are ways that to men seem right, the end whereof plungeth into the depths of hell" (Prov 16:25). And also when we are filled with dread at what is said of the negligent: "They are corrupted and become abominable in their pleasure" (Ps 13[14]:1). But as regards desires of the flesh, let us believe that God is thus ever present to us, since the Prophet saith to the Lord: "Before Thee is all my desire" (Ps 37[38]:10)." - Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 7.

These words come from Benedict's chapter on humility. How many of us in congregations, whether we serve in the pulpit or in the pew, have thought about this concept? I certainly know a lot of pastors who are very impressed with themselves. Of course I have met many congregants who are similarly impressed.

I have served in several congregations who were experiencing, or had experienced conflict. Almost all of them at some point included a pastor or parishioner, or several of each, who started many sentences with "I want . . . " The success of these congregations in surviving these experiences, and moving on to become a thriving community, is essentially measured by their ability to give up that phrase. Instead they turn to phrases like, "what does God call us to do here," or "how can I serve you." 

In my denomination one of the membership, and ordination vows includes the question, "who is your Lord and Savior." The required answer is, "Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior."  If we declare Christ is the Lord of our lives, we must also declare that we are not out to get our own way.  Instead, our way should be one considering how Jesus would have us live, and how Jesus would have us treat others. To me, the first step on that path, is the abandonment of "I want," and instead embracing humility.