I have had a bunch of conversations with you over the course of the last month about humility. And I agree with all of you. We don't live in a culture of humility. We don't always get anywhere by being humble. I get it. I understand. I agree. And yet, Jesus calls us out of our own way of living into a different one. We are not called to be conformists. We are called to be anything but that.
And I think there is a difference between showing humility and being a pushover. Jesus was our role model for humility and he was not a pushover. Pushovers do not start a revolution that changes the world. Rosa Parks was humble and she was not a pushover. Pushovers do not start a revolution that changes the world.
We end our series on humility this month with these strong scriptures. They implore us to take up action through prayer and good deed. To change things by being involved but not 'get in the way.' They suggest that we make a clear path for the least among us so that we don't inhibit their journeys. Mark quotes Jesus as saying we'd be better off throwing ourselves in the river with a millstone tied around our neck than to block the path of someone who is oppressed.
Oh my goodness. Is this rich scripture in our current culture?! When so much of the mainstream media reports on the Christians who try to block rights of others, who try to block choice of others, who try to condemn others. Jesus is saying do not block the pathway of the oppressed. It hurts you more than them.
And James tells the faithful, gather the church leaders together and pray for those who are sick and suffering. Anoint them with oil. Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another. James says in these acts they will be healed. In other words, prayer and action go hand in hand. Pope Francis recently said, " You pray for the hungry, then you feed them. That's how prayer works." Exactly the point of James, I think.
Humility is not standing around letting someone boss you around. Humility is choosing to pray for those who have wronged you. And to find avenues to act for justice for those who have no voice. And to pray for those who need your prayers and find ways to alleviate their suffering. Humility is to do all of these: Pray, care, love, seek justice, get out of the way of someone's journey when it's not your path to choose. And don't expect someone to give you some pat on the back or round of applause because of your great devotion. Do it because it's what God wants you to do. And that's enough.
What do we do to really become followers of Christ in a world where humility and selfless love and good deed are so counter-intuitive? Why is this so hard? It's always been hard. It wasn't easy for the disciples and it wasn't easy for Jesus and it's not easy for us now.
Thoughts? Email me at peverhart@niwotumc.org or comment below.
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