tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post5401925292608292678..comments2024-03-25T06:39:42.081-04:00Comments on Bonfire of the Vanities: True Humility (Sunday homily)Fr Martin Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01375628123126091747noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-74213438890474305802007-09-05T09:58:00.000-04:002007-09-05T09:58:00.000-04:00Jackie,As a father, the most humbling thing is rea...Jackie,<BR/><BR/>As a father, the most humbling thing is realizing that the Lord has given me responsibility for the proper raising of my children. What an awesome responsibility! The first time I held one of my children (I have 4 now) I was in awe that my wife and I had been given such a precious gift. How small I felt at that moment, but , though through the Lord we are given strength to be what he needs us to be. I have felt that with all 4 of my children. That responsibility has kept me humble in all that I do. For how can I fail them and Our Lord. <BR/><BR/>Annie,<BR/><BR/>I think you need to "Read and Heed" Jackie's post again. It has become the custom in our world to have contempt for authority. This is also prideful. <BR/><BR/>The model that Jesus left us with was a Shepherd and a flock, not anarchy or a mob. Mobs don't think rationally, they think as a massed animal. The Lord calls us to more than that. A Shepherd not only seeks out the lost sheep, but, they keep order in the flock, and teach the flock to move together. Otherwise the flock goes off in all directions, which, one could rightly say this is what is happening with Christians in the last few centuries. <BR/><BR/>Leadership is a two edged sword, true rank hath privilege and power, so as to make things happen, but as Christ shows in the washing of the feet of the apostles, a leader is also the servant of those he leads. This has been the basis of the Christian (and western) leadership ideal for centuries. Those who forget that are (and should be) vilified or deposed. <BR/><BR/>PAXAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-79423915574875343052007-09-03T19:58:00.000-04:002007-09-03T19:58:00.000-04:00a fine post Jackie. An important part of humility...a fine post Jackie. An important part of humility is obedience. Especially to Christ and His Church!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-5350244826768793032007-09-03T16:29:00.000-04:002007-09-03T16:29:00.000-04:00Jackie, no apologies are needed. It's okay to hav...Jackie, no apologies are needed. It's okay to have a different opinion.<BR/>You expressed yours well and amiably. No offense taken at all!<BR/>I appreciate hearing the thoughts of others and find them interesting and worthwhile.<BR/>AnnieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-57322252636695424582007-09-03T12:06:00.000-04:002007-09-03T12:06:00.000-04:00Dear Annie,I apologize if I misunderstood your pos...Dear Annie,<BR/><BR/>I apologize if I misunderstood your post or offended you. Please forgive me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-64813793681939930722007-09-03T11:14:00.000-04:002007-09-03T11:14:00.000-04:00Dear Jackie, what can I say but, "Lighten up." An...Dear Jackie, what can I say but, "Lighten up." <BR/><BR/>AnnieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-2308692203961378532007-09-03T08:58:00.000-04:002007-09-03T08:58:00.000-04:00Dear father Martin,I really love your blog and pos...Dear father Martin,<BR/><BR/>I really love your blog and posts. Your writing is great and inspiring. <BR/><BR/>Being a student of the Latin language, I've recently come accross a wonderful and free <A HREF="http://www.babylon.com/define/112/Latin-Dictionary.html" REL="nofollow">Latin Dictionary</A> which I thought could be of interest of other users. It is a great collection of bilingual Englis-Latin-English dictionaries with more than 90.000 entries.<BR/>Hope it can be useful to you and other readers as it has been to me.<BR/><BR/>Best,<BR/><BR/>RichardAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-48236925572171045652007-09-03T08:43:00.000-04:002007-09-03T08:43:00.000-04:00Gosh Annie,I read your comments last night before ...Gosh Annie,<BR/><BR/>I read your comments last night before I went to bed and have prayed and thought about them since then. I wish we could ‘chat over a cup of coffee or lunch’ as I think that would be much more productive than a blog response. But, we have what we have.<BR/><BR/>I think that you may have confused a legitimate position of authority and humility. Our Lord not only had a position of authority (think of the Transfiguration – He didn’t need a ring – he was glorified and the 3 Apostles fell on their faces – prostrate.) AND Our Lord was humble. These are NOT mutually exclusive things. Although – when a person is in a position of authority – he or she is certainly tempted to not be humble so we must pray for our bishops and priests. <BR/><BR/>I as a mother am in a position of authority over my son. I not only know this and must accept it BUT am required to ensure he knows it too – otherwise he would not learn true humility in the face of legitimate authority. I am still called to be humble, Since we are humans – body and soul - and have original sin and all of the consequences of that – we need to be reminded of this authority in visible ways – often through ceremony and habit. Hence, my son was expected to say ‘Yes, Ma’am’, to step out of the pew and back so that I stepped in front of him to go to Holy Communion, etc. I have taught and expected these things not just because these are polite and he’s being raised to be a gentleman, but because I AM HIS MOTHER and expect him to treat me that way.<BR/><BR/>Our Dear Lord DID call men to be in positions of authority and called one man, Peter, to be in authority over them. They were no less called to be humble but the humility included accepting and acknowledging intellectually as well as physically that they had authority. So John ran ahead of Peter to the empty tomb but he did not enter first – he waited for Peter. <BR/><BR/>This authority had to be shown visibly as well as intellectually – hence we have rings, and vestments, etc. It is a help to us who don’t always see our bishop and when we do they look just like any other man that, in fact, ARE in a position of authority. All of the things you listed are to be a help to us – to remind us – and they are often an occasion of sin for these men – some of whom have not always been humble.<BR/><BR/>Lastly, Annie, a gentle and loving little rebuke - I’m not sure that the hee hee at the end of your post exactly demonstrated the humility that you are asking of your bishops and priests, your fathers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-13714347191912166892007-09-02T14:42:00.000-04:002007-09-02T14:42:00.000-04:00A large part of humility, to me anyway, is never p...A large part of humility, to me anyway, is never placing ourselves in a privileged position above others, never saying that we are more blessed or favored than they are. Instead, each true Christian needs to forget his or her own ego, but rather loving and helping others in whatever need they have without a desire for thanks or payback.<BR/><BR/>I subscribe to US Catholic & there is a wonderful article on humility in this month's issue. Had to laff a bit when they called the RC hierarchy on the carpet (gently and lovingly, of course) for its pomp and circumstance - which is so obviously (esp to non RC's) unlike the behavior & lifestyle of our dear Lord Jesus Christ, who never sported papal crowns nor would require the apostles to kneel and kiss his jeweled rings even if he had any - which we may safely assume he did not! Read & heed, all ye popes, cardinals, & bishops! Hee, hee!<BR/><BR/>AnnieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com