A lesson in humility

Father Abraham Srambical

Once it so happened. Among the five fingers in the hand, a dispute took place. Who is the greatest among them was the cause of the dispute. The thumb proudly said it is the greatest among them. The point finger did not accept its argument and it said, “For anything to point out, my help is necessary. So I am more important than others.” After hearing the argument, the big middle finger got up and narrated its quality and stood straight showing its mighty power. This time the ring finger with shy in its face got up and said, “Look, in marriage the couples wear the wedding ring on me and it’s because I am so important.” At last the smallest one’s chance came. It did not have anything to boast. It slowly said by accepting all others’ uniqueness, “Dear fellow companions, I may have nothing to boast like you, but when we go to pray, I am in front. So I am precious for God.” Hearing this comment from the little finger, all others understood their mistake. We compare ourselves with others and desire their praise and glory. The appetite for glory and greatness seems to be inbred in us. Who doesn’t cherish the ambition to be ‘somebody’ whom others admire rather than a ‘nobody’? Who is the greatest? This crucial problem attacks all the human beings like the virus to the computers. Many incidents happen in communities, family lives, business and political field, etc. In this entire field one question arises: who will climb the ladder of greatness? Who is the greatest? This question gradually brings division among the people. Due to this attitude many are wounded in our communities and families. Many are not able to smile freely. In the Gospel of Mark 9:33-37 we come across a dispute among the disciples about the question of the greatest. How ashamed the disciples must have been when Jesus overheard them about who among them was the greatest! But aren’t we like those disciples? Jesus understood the attitude of those disciples. So He took the best example which was available. He pointed out the child, who is least recognized by society. What can a child possibly teach us about greatness? Children in the ancient society had no rights, position or privileges of their own. By giving importance to a child in a way, is equal to, siding with the voiceless. By welcoming such a child, who was least important in the society, is equal to becoming the servant. Only by becoming the least, in order to rise them up to provide them the God-given human status, one can become the greater. John the Baptist said, “He must increase and I must decrease.” (John 3:30) This decreasing attitude will help one to depend completely on God. Here, there is no ‘ego’ attitude. Look at the child, in the child there is no ego. Mother or father may get angry at the child but immediately it forgets everything and embraces its parents. There are no prejudices, selfishness or any other ego problems in that mind. Are we able to forget like the child and understand others? Are we ready to forgive and forget sincerely others’ mistakes, which have been done against us? Are we able to understand our friends more sincerely? Or, are we holding the selfish attitude that I am right? Are we still thinking only about ourselves? Asking or giving forgiveness sincerely is a quality of a Christ’s disciple. To this world, it is difficult to understand and so they will take it as the sign of cowardliness. Often we too fall in that category. The merciful God, who is compassionate, will help the disciple to lead a faithful disciples’ life which is centered on service and humility, not on power and prestige. And through this, our family, society, will become more peaceful and acceptable to all. When Jesus understood dispute among the disciples about the question of the greatest, He says it is the Gentiles and the worldly centered people who look for it. As the disciple of Jesus, you should have an attitude of servants. He says the greatest among you must become like the youngest and the leader like one who serves. Not only He said those words but also He did it and gave the example. In the Gospel of John 13:1-11, we see Jesus washes the feet of His own disciples. By doing so, He set an example of greatness by becoming the servant. All those people who became greater in this world had the attitude of this humility, the attitude of service. Take the examples of Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi. They did service to this world, by doing so they wrote their names in golden letters, which cannot be wiped from the hearts of human beings. They did it, because they understood the uniqueness of a service mind. In a way they recognized the fact that they can become great and the world become a better place by doing service with humility. If we really want to be great in front of God, the attitude needs to be changed. As a result, our prayer too, and it may spring out from our hearts: “Lord, make me a humble servant to serve my family members, community members, friends, society and ultimately you, Oh Lord. Amen!”