Aidan Weber 2/15/24
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Every Ash Wednesday millions of Catholics gather in Churches around the world to be told that they are dust and to dust they shall return. What a perfect message as we enter a season of renewal and preparation. It’s powerful because it humbles us.
Humility is the greatest of all the virtues because it serves as the basis of all virtues. One without humility will never accept that they need to be more loving, more honest, or more chaste. One simply thinks he or she is perfect. Christ speaks highly of humility saying “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). We seek constant praise and live in a society where we’re told to seek praise. However, this is exhausting and unfulfilling.
In today’s culture judgment barricades true humility. In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis defined humility as “not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” It’s nearly impossible to think of yourself less if you’re constantly worried about others’ judgments. Judgment used correctly is important and necessary. For example, as a college student if I submit a five-word response to what is supposed to be a five-page response and still receive an “A” I’d feel as if the professor didn’t care about me or just didn’t read it.
However, unnecessary judgment chokes spiritual growth and peace. Judging others and longing for positive judgments work as a lethal tag team to destroy peace. One who is at peace has fully humbled him or herself to God. He provides all that is needed, so chasing unnecessary approval is worthless. Having others like you is in no way a bad thing, but those who have the least amount of peace in their lives are constantly burdened by the need to fill their egos with other’s positive judgments.
On the other side of judgment, we must limit ourselves from judging others. Thomas Aquinas identifies that the task of judging others belongs to the wise. Every time we judge others we think we know more than them. We all have enough to worry about but still find time to stop and judge. Thomas à Kempis sums it up perfectly in The Imitation of Christ. He reflects “We can have a lot of peace if we stop worrying about what others say and do, because those things have nothing to do with us. How can someone have peace if they are constantly preoccupied with other people’s affairs?” Why place the unnecessary burden of judging others onto ourselves? God’s judgment is the only one that truly matters, yet we pridefully try to take that into our own hands. How freeing must it be to not feel the need to judge?
Jesus went after those who wanted positive judgments when He said not to pray on sidewalks or appear weak when you fast. Appearing to be better means nothing in the long run. The judgments of others are insignificant in the long run. I’m even afraid that this obsessive judgment culture has blended into religious practice. We often live trying to hit check marks for Heaven rather than truly living for God. We think we must go to Mass, be a decent person, fast when you need, and boom, Heaven.
Yes, these things are important, but they limit us. Heaven is a state in which one is in perfect relationship with God. This is anywhere God’s will is done. We can have a piece of Heaven on earth if we stop thinking of God only as a judge who needs us to do a few things. The way that others, and God, will know that we are followers of God is by how we love. As John 13:35 exclaims, “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Jesus himself was devoutly humble. Think of all the ways God could have come into the world: a king, a rich man, a high ranking official. However, God came down as a poor man who lived simply. He set the example of how to live, and he lived humbly. He also didn’t change to gain others’ approval. He did what was right and was hated by many for it. It is immensely arrogant for us to think that God would ever set a false example of how to live. Humility was the example.
We are lucky to be living in a day and age after God became incarnate, so we have this great example. Now we have to use it and shed our own will in favor of Christ’s. It’s time to strip our wills and our egos to live humbly.
This Lent we’re getting ready to shed meat on Friday, and popular items like coffee, and desserts but shedding pride should top that list. Humility is a virtue, meaning it’s a habit. Habits are formed over time. Unlike just going back to coffee and desserts after 40 days, truly attempting to live humbly will stick with you long after the 40 days are over.
Use Lent as a tool and a kick starter to give up the capital vice of pride and live as Christ did: humbly. It will surely lead to a freeing and more peaceful life. You no longer have to judge or worry about judgments, you only need to live like Christ. When our egos are dropped we understand that we deserve nothing. Then everything becomes a beautiful gift to be appreciated in humility.
Aidan Weber is a Long Island resident who is currently studying theology at the University of Notre Dame.
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