Readings:
Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29
Psalm 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11
Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a
Luke 14:1, 7-14

“Anything you can do, I can do better!”

These are the first words of a clever lyric from the Broadway musical ‘Annie Get Your Gun.’ While the ‘battle of the sexes’ is the original setting for the song, the sentiments expressed fit many more situations. They are explicitly promoted in the arena of competitive sports; they are often the motivation that drives the fashion industry; and they are probably most obvious in the field of advertising. In venues such as these, it does not seem to be enough to be good; one has to be better, or ideally, one should be the best.

If you want to make it in the world today, you have to advertise. If you have a product to sell or a service to offer, you must make it known, and you must brag about it. In order to showcase their product, many advertisers claim: ‘We have what no one else has!’ ‘Our product is bigger and better and lasts longer!’ ‘We can do what no one else can do!’ ‘We are more reliable than the rest!’  Face it – A humble attitude will probably not make you ‘Number One’ in any field. Does this mean that we believers should not strive to be better, to produce better products, or advertise? Must we refrain from extolling the benefits of what we might have to offer? Not at all. It simply suggests that it is very difficult to be humble in such circumstances.

The reading from Sirach is a short discourse on humility. In it, the author admonishes the student (“my child”) to learn to live within the realm of possibility. In other words, accept yourself as you are; don’t seek what is too sublime for you or search for things beyond your strength. There is a very thin line here between being content with the abilities that we have and simply sliding through life with as little effort as possible. This advice is certainly not suggesting that we should not try to excel. However, there is a difference between working as hard as we can in order to be the best that we can be and presuming that we are more than we really are. Nor do we always discover that thin line or recognize that difference. Actually, humility is more a disposition of the soul than it is a course of action.

The parable that Jesus tells condemns arrogance, not trying our best. It demonstrates how people with inflated egos often assume places of honor. In doing so, they risk having to relinquish those places in favor of someone who is more distinguished than they are. Instead of proudly glorying in their own importance, they are then made to feel shamed. There is no place for an ‘I am better than you’ attitude among the followers of the one who in his humanity emptied himself of the privileges of divinity. We may indeed have an abundance of material possessions or a fine education or exceptional talent. Still, these do not mean that we are superior to others. Those who are so fortunate would do well to heed the admonition of Sirach: “Humble yourself the more, the greater you are.” Such humility is really honesty, for everything we have is a gift from God. No one did anything to earn special blessings.

In many other ways we try to impress others with our importance. We might act in a way that generates praise and acceptance, or we might choose to associate only with important people. We want to be known as having read the key books, as frequenting the popular places, as being invited to the important parties. And equally significant is the fact that influential people come to our parties, or at least recognize us. We deceive ourselves when we think that any of this makes us important. Though Jesus does not say anything about reading books or visiting places, what he says about parties clearly addresses this matter: “When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.” Invite those whose presence cannot enhance your own prestige; invite those who cannot repay you in kind.

So much of our time and energy is wasted in trying to convince others of our importance. Besides, most of us will not be featured in the society pages regardless of what we do. Jesus points to what is really of value, and that is caring for those in need of our help. Is not this what so many of us do anyway? We care for family members and friends and neighbors; we offer our time and whatever resources we can to soup kitchens and clothing drives; we join walks and runs in support of worthy causes. We are just ordinary people attentive to others in ordinary ways that are really extraordinary. In such situations, we do not claim places of honor; we do not insist on special recognition. Though we may not be conscious of it, in such situations we really conduct our affairs in genuine humility and not so that we are seen to be doing the right things.  In such situations we are not concern with who is better or best, but who is in need.  That way of living is, in fact, the better way.

Dianne Bergant, CSA
Carroll Stuhlmueller, CP, Distinguished Professor Emerita of Old Testament Studies