Saint Aidan Catholic Church - Livonia, MI
  • Discover
    • Schedule
    • Contact
    • Register
    • About >
      • Our Patron Saint
      • Church Tour
      • PRES Plan
    • Groups >
      • Women of St. Aidan
      • Men's Club
      • Men's Prayer Group
      • Young(ish) Adults
    • Links
  • Grow
    • May Enrichment
    • VBS
    • Become Catholic
    • Foundations of Faith
    • Into the Breach
    • Blog
    • Families
    • Sacrament Prep >
      • Reconciliation & Holy Communion
      • Confirmation
    • Bible Studies >
      • Ephesians
    • Young(ish) Adults
    • Youth Ministry
    • Ongoing Enrichment >
      • Online Studies
      • Sacraments
      • Faith Basics
      • Library Database
    • Children's Liturgy of the Word
  • Service
    • Assistance
    • Pray
    • Right to Life
    • Vocations
  • Give
    • Electronic Donations
    • CSA
  • Discover
    • Schedule
    • Contact
    • Register
    • About >
      • Our Patron Saint
      • Church Tour
      • PRES Plan
    • Groups >
      • Women of St. Aidan
      • Men's Club
      • Men's Prayer Group
      • Young(ish) Adults
    • Links
  • Grow
    • May Enrichment
    • VBS
    • Become Catholic
    • Foundations of Faith
    • Into the Breach
    • Blog
    • Families
    • Sacrament Prep >
      • Reconciliation & Holy Communion
      • Confirmation
    • Bible Studies >
      • Ephesians
    • Young(ish) Adults
    • Youth Ministry
    • Ongoing Enrichment >
      • Online Studies
      • Sacraments
      • Faith Basics
      • Library Database
    • Children's Liturgy of the Word
  • Service
    • Assistance
    • Pray
    • Right to Life
    • Vocations
  • Give
    • Electronic Donations
    • CSA

True Humility

3/27/2021

 
Every time I think about Palm Sunday, I think of a story I heard about Mother Teresa. She was awarded the Nobel Peace prize for the years of sacrificial love and mercy given to the poor of India. She was interviewed on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson who was very respectful of Mother Teresa, but at one point he asked her if the cash money she received as a part of the prize or the notoriety of the moment would “go to her head.” Mother Teresa's answer was not unexpected, (being one of the most humble people in the world), but it did throw Mr. Carson for a loop—as well as the rest who happened to be watching! She reminded Mr. Carson of the day when Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem on that little donkey. Of course, Carson remembered the story. She then asked, “Do you think, Mr. Carson, for one moment, that that little donkey thought the crowd was giving him the praise and glory instead of Jesus?” For Carson it was a lesson in true humility.

​Humility is a virtue we often undervalue in this world. We are taught that all that counts is to win—to be Number One—no matter the cost. Every day we see some “winners” who have “won” through intimidation, cheating, conniving, and climbing success ladders on the shoulders and backs of others. (Just think about those recent news reports about the mom and daughter who cheated in the voting for homecoming court so the daughter could “win”!) We are encouraged by society to “blow our own horns” (music reference) and to be our own public relations agent. Often pride may mask itself as a false humility, and you know it and see it—someone who denigrates themselves after doing well while just fishing for compliments.

True humility is knowing the truth about yourself—it is what reconciliation calls us to in our faith. The key to true humility lies in knowing and understanding the source of our worthiness and our wins. True humility is honest: no false fronts (pretending we are something we are not—so no self-deception). True humility is telling the truth (but not tactless savagery), it is acting with integrity (by honoring our promises and commitments), it is admitting faults (telling ourselves the truth), it is giving credit where credit is due, and it is not making excuses or casting blame regarding our failures. We are called in humility and truth as believers to allow the Holy Spirit to enter and penetrate our hearts, minds and souls in order to live in the awareness of our need for God’s grace.

The spiritual writer Andrew Murray (1828-1917) in his book “Humility: The Beauty of Holiness” (1895) wrote: “Humility is not so much a grace or virtue along with other virtues as it is the root of all, because it alone takes the right attitude before God, and allows God to do all.” This idea is deeply challenging to us all in today’s social media, self-image branding world we live in. The “casting of the self” became Murray's life theme. He served sixty years of ministry in the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa, wrote more than 200 books and tracts on Christian spirituality and ministry, he did extensive social work and founded educational institutions—all outward signs of the inward grace that Murray experienced by continually “casting himself” on Christ He imitated Christ in his life and work and actions—as we are all called to do as believers.

Today, Palm Sunday, we hear how Jesus “emptied himself, taking the form of a slave…he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death.”  Palm Sunday is about His Passion, Death and Resurrection (as is every other Sunday). We can shout and cheer and lay down palm branches all we want, but if we miss the fact that we do so because Jesus is God and we are saved forever by God’s grace, then we miss the point. Palm (Passion) Sunday is a good time to truly humble ourself and reflect on the mystery of our salvation work in us, and for others.

With Palm/Passion Sunday we enter into this Holiest Week as a Community to share all the great symbols and rituals of our Catholic belief. Have a “Great Week”—as this week is called in the liturgy of ancient Jerusalem. God bless you and keep singing in your hearts!

Elizabeth Dyc

Just a Note: Here is a lovely song about being humble—enjoy!

Comments are closed.

    Authors

    David J. Conrad, M.A. Theology. Our Director of Faith Formation.

    Paul Pyrkosz. Our Youth Minister & Bookkeeper.

    ​Elizabeth Dyc. Our Director of Music Ministry.

    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

St. Aidan Catholic Church
17500 Farmington Rd. 
Livonia, MI 48152
Phone: 734-425-5950
Fax: 734-425-3687
bulletin@staidanlivonia.org

Weekend Mass Schedule
Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 7:30, 9:30, 11:30 a.m.


Picture