By Fr. Glenn Jones:

Not infrequently you’ll see persons very actively lobbying for this or that deceased person to be declared a saint. But the person is a saint or not; our lobbying for such does nothing for his eternal condition. Some such activists might protest: “So that our town/region/state has a declared saint!” Well, if the intent is to have an example from “one of their own” persons can look to so as to realize the very real achievability of holiness, it is a good thing. The danger, however – as has happened often in the past – is boasting about “having” a local saint, vicariously basking in the saint’s glory. “Ha! We have a saint and you don’t. Losers!!” Hmmm … I don’t think the saint would be too pleased about that. Humility is pretty much a requisite for holiness.

But we humans seem to have this burning desire to be praised and admired … to have a celebrated name and receive glory from others—even by those whom we don’t know, and who don’t really know us. Few persons don’t want to be approved by those around us and with whom they have fellowship; that’s why even justified criticism stings so piercingly. Even as children we rant and rave in order to get attention, and can be shattered by others’ disapproval. But … doesn’t that very fact that small children long for attention so desperately itself indicate that such a desire for attention is childish?

Even Jesus’ apostles weren’t immune. We might recall Jesus correcting them for arguing among themselves about who was the greatest? (Mark 9:33-34) But Jesus urges us to take the lowest place …  quite contrary to our inner inclination. As He emphasizes to the apostles: “He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:11-12) For in another place He declares even of Himself—the divine person: “… [I] came not to be served but to serve, and to give [my] life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28) One can hardly read that line without also thinking of St. Paul’s awed exclamation: “O, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”  (Romans 11:33)

As St. Francis of Assisi reputedly said: “What we are in the eyes of God is what we are, and nothing more.” And Jesus teaches those core principals in the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of Heaven is theirs … Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:3,5)

But God has always cherished the humble … a theme reiterated throughout the Gospels, the New Testament and all the scriptures. What truly matters is not wealth or fame, but seeking the way of goodness—for Christians, the way of God and the Gospel. We only really become His true children by walking in the way that Jesus has shown us—God born in a stable, working quietly at His occupation—sweating, being hot and cold, hungry and thirsty, and even allowing Himself to be wrongly executed in a most agonizing and shaming fashion.

Long before Jesus, the scriptures extolled the virtue of humility: “He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.” (Psalm 25:9). “…what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8) “Thus says the LORD: ‘…this is the man to whom I will look, he that is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.’” (Isaiah 66:1-2)

And we also have the authors of the letters of the New Testament after Jesus’ Ascension and Pentecost: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4). “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another.” (1 Peter 5:5)

Well, as even the casual inquirer can readily see, humility is one of the most important virtues in following the Christian way—following Jesus’ own example. We might also recall Moses—a “type” or dim foreshadowing of Jesus—who also led God’s people, reading: “Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all men that were on the face of the earth.” (Numbers 12:3) So Jesus’ disciples are called to emulate and imitate Him, He who was meek and humble of heart to the literally infinite degree.

To be arrogant and actively pursue earthly glory in many ways is to despise other people, seeking to elevate the self even though all other persons are just as much God’s creations and God’s children. Earthly glory may come even to the humble, but in the end is pointless. The same earthly fate awaits all of us, whether prince, pope or pauper.

As God told the prophet Samuel when Samuel was selecting the new king of Israel: “…the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7). If the heart of it is rotten, so is the tree itself … no matter how it may look on the outside.

In humility resides kindness, charity and generosity, and in those virtues the Christian acknowledges his utter dependence upon God … that we are His creation, and that to serve Him and others is our purpose and duty. In doing that duty quietly and faithfully, we most perfectly imitate Christ, who gave himself so that we might have eternal life.

We, like Christ, are called to serve and not to be served, knowing that the fruitful stalk of grain bends low to the ground. In this one of the greatest practices of worship in seeking to “Be holy, as I am holy,” as God exhorts us. The exaltation of the humble saints is not with angelic brass bands, but simply in the joy of having pleased God—having lived in goodness and holiness—as best they could. Whenever we are humble and kind to others, this pleases Him immensely, for then, in us, the Father sees that reflection of His beloved Son that we are called to be.

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Humble yourself the more, the greater you are,
and you will find favor with God.

(Sirach 3:18)

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.