This week's Theme bids us realise afresh the wonderful ways the gifts given by God at Pentecost to people make "new" people of them. One way in humility, the willingness to serve, has been widely recognised and acclaimed in tributes to the life of the late Cardinal Basil Hume, Archbishop of Westminster. Courtesy and consideration were marked characteristics of his life with individuals, and other churches.
The same characteristic can be seen in another world figure also recently in the news - Nelson Mandela. In his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, he says: "I learned that to humiliate another person is to make him suffer an unnecessarily cruel fate. Even as a boy I defeated my opponents without dishonouring them."
Both world figures had nobility and reverent dignity. It is interesting that despite such forceful tributes to humility we must ask: "Why is it that so many people prefer to cling tenaciously to the passing illusions of pride rather than enjoying the lasting satisfaction of always aiming to `walk humbly with God'.. .serving Him and others?"
There is strength and greatness in humility. Some people can recall the time when large numbers of barefooted poor children roamed the streets, selling newspapers or seeking assistance. Kindly disposed folks brought them for outings to the seaside. One "chiseller" got a vile waspsting on his toe, needing urgent attention. A person of positive humility stepped forward, grasped the dirty toe, put it in her mouth, and sucked away the sting. She showed courage in humility.
It was an established custom in the East to appoint a slave of the household to wash the weary travellers' grimy feet after their journey. Jesus, given the humility to serve as a slave, washed the feet of the disciples. They were shocked that He of all people should be doing a slave's duty: "Jesus got up from the supper-table, took off his outer clothes, picked up a towel and fastened it round his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel that was around his waist." Jesus did a slave's duty to teach the disciples humility - the great secret of deep fulfilment.
There is a legend about St. Francis of Assisi. In his early days he was wealthy; nothing but the best was good enough for him. But he was ill at ease, and there was no peace in his soul. One day he was riding alone outside the city when he saw a leper, a mass of sores, a horrible sight.
Ordinarily Francis, being fussy about appearances and cleanliness, would have turned away in disgust from such a hideous wreck of humanity. But something moved within him. He dismounted from his horse and flung his arms around the leper; and as he embraced him the leper turned into the figure of Jesus. The nearer we are to suffering humanity, the nearer we are to God. Pride, the opposite of humility, had to be replaced by caring love in Saint Francis.