By Fr. Glenn Jones:

Well … it’s been an interesting week, don’t you think? President Trump inaugurated, subsequently resulting in a flurry of executive actions. Love him or not, you have to admit that he’s definitely made his mark in the world during his life—certainly more than most people. Yep … definitely way off the average, and at 78 years old already, apparently not going quietly into the night.

As has J.D. Vance. Again, like him or not, it’s hard not to be impressed by his story. In his childhood he had almost nothing going for him—raised in poverty and with myriad disadvantages, he nonetheless has risen to the second highest office in the land. “Hillbilly Elegy” is his autobiographical account of his childhood and young adult life.

Now, we’ve all likely heard of distribution curves, more commonly known as “bell” curves, which typically graph a numerous data points of some characteristic (on the x-axis) along a scale of frequency (y-axis)—the “mean”, or average, being at the peak of the curve, with deviation from the mean—lesser or greater—graphed on opposite sides of the peak. If unfamiliar, imagine a symmetrical rounded mountain with sides sloping eventually to almost horizontal as data points become less common toward each extreme. Also, “standard deviations” are degrees of deviation from the mean. If you can’t visualize it, just internet search it.

So, if we had a bell curve of human achievement in the world, both Trump and Vance, Biden and Harris—and likely most high-level politicians—would be pretty much “off the mean”, whether for good or ill. But that could go with just about any occupation: the good vs average vs poor carpenters, or accountants, or soldiers, etc. And while some professions may have greater societal import than others, we might be reminded that all exist to fill a need in society. As we read in scripture of the less glamorous professions: “All these rely on their hands, and all are skillful in their own work. Without them no city can be inhabited … Yet they are not sought out for the council of the people, nor do they attain eminence in the public assembly … They do not sit in the judge’s seat … and they are not found among the rulers. But they maintain the fabric of the world, and their prayer is for the exercise of their trade.” (Sirach 38:31-34)

This also comports with St. Paul’s explication of the Body of Christ—the Church and its members: “For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them …” (Romans 12:4-6)

We might, then, take time to evaluate ourselves: where am I on the “curve” of my profession, my relationships, my morality? My faith? Are there those whom I admire and yet do not emulate? If so, why don’t I? Or if I plan to improve, if not now, when? Or, on the flip side, do I imitate those who perform poorly, or who complain constantly, or who at least apparently never seek to improve themselves? Am I simply content with being “average” and ascribe to the “if the minimum wasn’t good enough, it wouldn’t be the minimum” mantra?

Each faithful Christian, to live up to his ascribed title, by definition need evaluate himself in the light of scripture, particularly the New Testament and especially the Gospels. After all, “Christian” does mean “follower of Christ”. So … how are we doing? Are we content with being “average” (synonym: “mediocre. Ouch.), or are we striving for excellence in our faith, and subsequently in our morals and our relationships with others? Do I, as Jesus instructs, love God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength, and my neighbor as myself? Do I forgive freely? After all, Jesus said (as St. Paul would later echo) we are forgiven by God “as we forgive those who sin against us.” (Matthew 6:12, 14; Colossians 3:13). And sexual morality: fidelity in marriage, and chastity outside of it, as Jesus and the apostles very clearly taught?

Christians should strive to be those “extreme data points” in the world as have the recognized saints before us. Our non-Catholic Christian brethren sometimes ask why Catholics venerate or revere (NOT worship) saints. It’s quite simple: we admire/venerate/revere and (try to) imitate and emulate saints, because the saints imitated/emulated Christ. The saints also remind us how we ourselves—just everyday ol’ men and women—can aspire to spiritual excellence … if only we will. As St. Thomas Aquinas wrote: “How do you become a saint? You will it!”

And so, O Christian brethren, let us strive to be “extreme data points” when it comes to kindness, charity, and reflecting the goodness of Jesus. As St. Paul writes: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32) We are to be “fools for Christ”, loving enemies, hating no one, and seeking the good of others even before our own. Just as He did. He, the most extreme goodness data point of all.

Editor’s note: Rev. Glenn Jones is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and former pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos.