Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
(Matthew 7:1-5)
Archbishop Tim Dolan of Milwaukee tells the story of an essay contest in the early 1930’s sponsored by an English newspaper. He writes that participants were to submit compositions answering the question, “What’s wrong with the world today?” As much as at any time there were plenty of troubles then. The great economies of the world were in depression. Communism was gaining popularity all over. Germany was on the verge of rearming. However, according to Archbishop Dolan, the Catholic writer G.K. Chesterton submitted the winning essay, consisting of only two words. Answering the question, “What’s wrong with the world...?” Chesterton wrote, “I am.”
Chesterton seems to have taken to heart Jesus’ message in the gospel today. Rather than judge others, we are to acknowledge and correct our faults. This kind of humility became thematic for Christianity. St. Paul will write to the Philippians, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves” (Phil 2:3). We should not see this perspective as unreal or self-abusive. Rather, it understands what many come to realize with guilt and embarrassment: we are not as capable as we think, and others are not as deficient.
Americans have a custom that institutionalizes the refraining of judging others. At our best we call everyone by Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss and their last name. Even the president of the country is often addressed as “Mr. President.” The custom is based on the equality of all. No one is inherently better or worse than another. Everyone deserves a simple title. In the end God will judge all regarding their use of individual talents.
