Scripture Reflection, February 3: A Dose of Humility for the Super Bowl

Scripture Readings:
Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13
Psalm 146
I Corinthians 1:26-31
Matthew 5:1-12

What will happen this Sunday night? Will the New England Patriots win their fourth Super Bowl in seven years and complete an undefeated season? Or will the New York Giants, underdogs throughout the playoffs, stage a classic upset?  Will David slay Goliath? I need to be honest here. I have been a Patriots fan for a number of years.  And I am pulling for Tom Brady and Company. But I must admit that I have grown a little weary of the attitude and some of the antics of their coach and some of Patriot players this season.  There does seem to be more than a hint of arrogance there. I suppose this is why so many people are rooting against them.

A touch of arrogance and a dash of showmanship seem to be characteristic of our American culture. We are in the midst of a presidential campaign, and the candidates do not come across as overly modest about their accomplishments. On the football field and the basketball court, athletes seem to excel in flamboyant celebrations of their on-the-field/court accomplishments. A good tackle results in some serious chest-pounding; a touchdown leads to manic end-zone dancing. The message we receive in many television commercials and other forms of advertising often highlights a form of self-assertiveness that parades one’s talents, wealth or good looks before others. A touch of arrogance is “in”; humility is definitely unfashionable these days.

If this is true, then Sunday’s Scripture readings present a distinct challenge to disciples of Jesus. They invite us to adopt a humble stance before God and others. In a beautiful reading from Zephaniah, the prophet exhorts the people of Israel to seek justice and humility. They are called to be a people who live out of their dependence on God – who take refuge in the name of the Lord.  Saint Paul has to confront a community of Christians at Corinth who are in competition with one another.  Apparently some of them are parading their “spiritual gifts” before others. As usual, Paul pulls no punches. He reminds them of their origins in faith. They were not called by God because they were the “bluebloods” of their society. They were not the most powerful or intelligent people in Greece. Rather they received the marvelous gift of new life in Christ because of God’s gracious action. God’s grace in Christ is a generous love that raises the lowly, restores dignity to those who have lost it, and grants wisdom even to those who may have no academic degrees. As Paul puts it, “Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.”

A stance of humility is also central to the beatitudes that we hear from Matthew’s Gospel this Sunday. This is a compelling Gospel passage that is worth reflecting on in our personal prayer. These nine “blessings” illumine characteristics and actions that are promised rich rewards when the fullness of God’s reign is established. The very first of these beatitudes pronounces blessing on the “poor in spirit.” This poverty of spirit is a disposition, an inner awareness, that we are absolutely dependent on God for everything. It entails openness to God in our lives and a realization that it is God who is our greatest happiness.

The humility and poverty of spirit to which these Scripture readings invite us is not a matter of self-deprecation or of dismissing our gifts and accomplishments. Nor does it mean fixating on our sinfulness every time we come before God in prayer or worship. The invitation of the Scriptures, the invitation of Jesus, is to be truthful people. We are called to be people of genuine and faith-filled realism. We believe that the fundamental truth of our lives is that we are dependent upon God for all that we have and all that we are. The very gift of life is from God, as are all the other gifts that we possess. We also believe that in Christ God loves us into wholeness; God’s mercy blankets us with healing and hope.

These foundational convictions of faith inspire us to be a grateful and generous people. Not a people who demean ourselves, who put ourselves (or others) down. Rather, our faith in Christ moves us to be people who acknowledge our God-given dignity, who offer thanks for all of our gifts, and who are willing to put those gifts at the service of others.

It is through a deepening awareness of the dignity that we have in the eyes of God that we find inner security and peace. The God who created this vast and ancient universe, who breathed life into us, loves us more than we could ever imagine. The more deeply we come to realize that truth, the less we need to make ourselves the center of attention in front of others. There is no longer a need to parade our accomplishments before the world. Christ’s presence in our lives frees us to be people of service, employing our gifts to enrich others. At the Eucharist, may we pray to become more attuned to his presence in our lives, more deeply aware of his love for us, so that we may respond to his call to be people of humble service.

Fr. Robin Ryan, cp