The Family Foundation School Catholic Community Bulletin
Pauca Verba (a few words)
Here is a little icon entitled Jesus Christ Extreme Humility. Maybe we have seen the most famous sculpture by Michelangelo, of Jesus taken down from the cross and placed in his Mother’s arms. It is called the Pieta.
But this icon has the extra dimension of the name, Extreme Humility. This title puts us into the deep waters of reflection or gospel pondering. Look at Jesus from the point of view of his humility – his life completely poured out, wasted, emptied. This is the gospel way.
We see Mary in the Annunciation. Gabriel is sent to a poor, powerless and humble girl of Nazareth. She empties herself before God in her surrender to God’s purposes.
In the cave of Bethlehem, the poor and outcast shepherds are the first witnesses. The wisemen followed the star, but only to find the poor family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Surely there was a shock – this is not the way kings come into the world.
And so it goes: a ministry to women and outcasts, temptations in the desert, eating with sinners, sick and the forgotten-poor. This wasn’t the Messiah the People of Israel hoped and longed for – a powerful leader who would destroy enemies – the Lion of Judah who would smash the enemies with an iron rod. What a realization- the enemy always was and still is SIN and the “iron rod” is the Cross!
Father William McNichols writes: This icon of Extreme Humility exposes and then begs us to convert our own lust for vengeance and power, our “culture of death” with the accompanying desire for wars and leaders of war. When we call out for the weapon-wielding Lion of Judah – God – in his unimaginable mercy and goodness gives us Jesus, the Lamb. Ponder these things!
In the film, Into Great Silence a very old blind monk is interviewed. He has lived the monastic life for sixty or seventy years. He knows a lot. He says, “What a pity there is no longer space in the world for God.” But how does he know this? He lives in a secluded monastery away from the world. Maybe he has conversations now and again with people from the outside who tell him about the things that are going on: the extinction of animals as we rip up the beaches and forests for resorts, the aborting of the children, the wars on top of wars on top of wars, the addiction that is ruining our country. But maybe the monk knows there’s no room for God in the world anymore because so few come to be monks!
But what about us? Is there really room for God in your world – in mine? Do I come to Mass begrudgingly? Do I pay little attention to God’s Word in the lessons read at Mass and the homily which opens up the message to us? Is my prayer selfish – without love for God? Do I think I don’t need to confess my sins? Does the idea of an hour of Adoration after Mass on Sunday evening bore me? The sadness of God – His waiting for us to respond in love!
