By Fr. Glenn Jones:

There sure is a lot of screaming and vitriol these days. Accusations of fascism here, genocide there … every “-phobia” and “-ism” imaginable … and some never thought of before. Much of it, of course, is just political or protester hyperbole to manipulate others toward a their “side”, or even to just score cheap points without taking into account all the facts or the whole of often myriad various concerns and variables. But underlying so many of demonizations seem to be airs of superiority. But for a true evaluation of self, humility is an essential ingredient, for “Arrogance is hateful before the Lord and before men …” (Sirach 10:7)

Recently in the Catholic Mass we read Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector worshiping in the Jerusalem temple area (Luke 18:9-14). The Pharisee stands apart and praises himself (“O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity…” (!)) for his devotion and meticulous observance of rules and regulations. Meanwhile, the lowly tax collector—on occupation despised in Jesus’ time by fellow Jews as treacherously working for the Roman occupation force—stood at a distance keeping his head bowed in abject humility, begging God’s forgiveness. He just beats his breast and prays, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

Now, Jesus’ second great commandment of “loving thy neighbor” was nothing new; it had even then been a central aspect in Jewish Law since the time of Moses a millennium before (Leviticus 19:18). Yet the self-righteous Pharisee—a supposed expert of the Law—nonetheless despises “this tax collector” and praises himself even in his prayer to God, thereby forfeiting (Jesus affirms) any merit or good or grace he may have gained because his self-glorification and disdain of his fellow man.

But doesn’t that sound a bit familiar? Are we not often tempted to (and, alas, guilty of), making sweeping judgments of others like this Pharisee, implicitly praising ourselves at their expense? While we can judge objectively things that are wrong and evil (murder, theft, adultery, etc.), we have no real foundation to elevate ourselves above others; after all, have WE not done bad things in the past? Fallen from grace—even from the lesser societally-accepted norms?

Also, we don’t know the circumstances or the grace that another person may have or have been given. And while we can and should teach others against evil and wrong actions, we are hardly in a position to judge their souls. Such judgment is for God alone, as St. Paul explains: “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls.” (Romans 14:4) As we are all servants and children of God, and only He who knows the heart, only He can judge the soul.

Now, in trying to justify bad actions, we’ll often hear people protest: “You’re judging me!”, or “Who are you to judge!?” But there’s much difference in objectively judging an action and judging a soul. We can and should try in charity correct those doing objectively evil actions. St. Paul writes: “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete…” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)…and: “… the Lord’s servant must [be] kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, forbearing, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil…” (2 Timothy 2:24-26) For, as the saying goes, all it takes for evil to thrive is that good people do nothing. Shall we then stand aloof when we see someone careening toward the edge of a cliff? Where is the charity in that? Nobody changes if nobody else calls them to task.

One thing that we often encounter is parents feeling hypocritical in correcting their children from things they themselves did in their youth. But they shouldn’t. If one drinks a sweet-tasting poison but survives, should he not warn others away from that same poison? They may not survive.

Yet, in judging the actions of a person, we must always be generous, for if our positions and circumstances were reversed, how can I know whether I might be worse than the other? Or, if he were in my position, he might be more devout and good than I? Who can say but God alone? And who knows?… in a year we might be the ones wallowing in the mire of wrongdoing, and he might be totally devoted to God. Today’s sinner may be tomorrow’s saints, as is said.

So we are called to set example—not arrogantly, but humbly. The Pharisee above missed a great opportunity: had he been humble before God and concerned about his fellow, the tax collector, he might have been praised by Jesus. We see the importance of Jesus’ teaching: “…first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”   (Matthew 7:5) 

Jesus concludes that parable with these powerful words: “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” And so we’re challenged to examine our own hearts. Do I love, or rather do I despise, my neighbor? If the latter, should I not look more deeply at myself; after all, do I not have faults as well? Do I do what is right always? If not, why not?

Humility is not about thinking less of ourselves or denying our worth; rather, it is about recognizing the truth of who we are. As St. Augustine once said, “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.”

Humility and love—two virtues which God desires to be in us most 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.