Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

 Lectionary: 391

I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.

Saint Bonaventure, the greatest of Franciscan ministers general after the Founder, is remembered for his teachings about humility, and for his practice of the same virtue. He wrote in the second chapter of his Holiness of Life,

To see personal defects aright a man must feel himself "humbled under the mighty hand of God." I admonish you, therefore, O handmaid of Christ, the moment you realise your failings to humble yourself in abject humility and acknowledge to yourself your utter worthlessness. "Humility," says St. Bernard, "is a virtue which prompts a man possessing an exact knowledge of himself to estimate himself and his powers as dross." Our holy Father St. Francis possessed this virtue. He considered himself the meanest of men. From his entrance into religion even unto the end he loved and cherished humility. Humility compelled St. Francis to leave the world. 

Perhaps it was easier to practice humility in a highly stratified society like medieval Europe. Everyone knew their station from the day they were born, and they knew there was little opportunity and no reason to hope they might improve their station. A king was a king; a pope, a pope, and peasants should expect to be poor, and to struggle, throughout their lives. To expect anything else was utter foolishness. 

We are given a different set of expectations in the 21st century. Anyone who doesn't aspire to upward mobility may be regarded as a failure, regardless of their reasoning, experience, or condition. We entertain one another with stories of achievement and success. Parents brag about their children's excellent grades and outstanding accomplishments in the gym or on the field. I rarely hear about ordinary children completing routine assignments unless they were, for some reason, particularly difficult. 

And I endure the elderly's stories of how, "I showed them they were wrong;" with the silent demand that, "You should admire my intelligence and insight." And I wonder how often I do the same thing. 

The practice of humility begins with reflection on God's goodness, and deepens with contemplation of the Lord's passion and death. We remember how He was silent, like a lamb led to slaughter. Saint Luke tells us of the Egyptian eunuch who was pondering Isaiah's cryptic passage when he met Saint Philip: 

This was the scripture passage he was reading:

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,

and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,

so he opened not his mouth.

In (his) humiliation justice was denied him.

Who will tell of his posterity?

For his life is taken from the earth.”

Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply, “I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this? About himself, or about someone else?”

Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this scripture passage, he proclaimed Jesus to him.

Whenever the New Testament uses the word lamb, the Divine Author sees Jesus as the sacrificial lamb who, without protest, was sacrificed to the Lord. Lambs may be cute, darling, or adorable; but we never think of them as successful. And yet we called to follow the Lamb wherever He goes. 

The practice of humility begins with silence. I should learn not to respond to everything that's said, done, or announced. The world and everyone around me can probably do just fine without my remarks or considered opinions. I was given two ears but only one mouth, and there's a reason for that; I should listen at least twice as much as I speak. 

I have notice that nearly everyone wants to be heard; not many want to listen. I can deal with that; I can listen more. Perhaps that's when the practice of humility begins to take hold. 

And, as Saint Paul wrote, 

It does not concern me in the least that I be judged by you or any human tribunal; I do not even pass judgment on myself;

I am not conscious of anything against me, but I do not thereby stand acquitted; the one who judges me is the Lord.

Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone will receive praise from God. (1 Cor 4:3)

Or, as Abraham Lincoln said, or should have said, "It's better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and prove it." (see Proverbs 17:28)