#3 (9th gr) Humility, Meekness, Compassion, & Mercy

Humility, Meekness, Compassion, & Mercy

Let's play a quick game.....

If I were to say those four words to you and you needed to tell me what they all had in common, what would you say?

(cue Jeopardy music......)

Answer:  All four words describe Christ, our Savior, the Redeemer of the world, the 2nd person of the Holy Trinity.

We throw these descriptive words around all the time, but what do they really mean?  And what do they really have to do with Jesus?  Jesus is God, of course He's going to be a good guy, right?  What's the big deal?

The big deal would be that the reason behind all these character traits that Christ possessed is NOT just to be merciful to us, (although we should be really thankful for God's mercy) but also that Jesus is the perfect example of how WE should be acting..... 

HUMILITY: a modest or low view of one's own importance; humbleness

Christ showed humility, but don't mistake humility for a low self-worth.  Jesus did not have a low self-esteem, we are created in the likeness and image of God; therefore, by simply being human we have dignity and are not worthless.

Question 1:  How did Jesus humble himself in his birth?

Humility means not putting oneself on a pedestal.  Knowing we ALL have worth is different than thinking you are not worthy.

The Word of God became man and humbled himself to be born among animals, to a teenage mother.  He who was present at creation became one WITH creation to show us how to live and love.  That is humility.  Putting one's own wants and entitlements aside for others well-being.

Please read your YouCat 76 p. 53, be sure to read the quotes in the margin, too.

Question 2:  In your own words explain what Pope Benedict's December 24th quote means.

Here's a real world example of putting aside one's rights so others may benefit.  President Obama's custom-made $1 million dollar vehicle is pictured here in contrast to Pope Francis' $20,000 Fiat.  Pope Francis is certainly entitled to a fancier car, but instead he chooses a more humble vehicle so that extra money can be used to benefit others' needs.

$1 million dollar car for President Obama

$20,000 Fiat for Pope Francis

Look how cute and little this Fiat is which Pope Francis used when in the United States in fall 2015

MEEKNESS:  Being quiet, gentle, and submissive

Really?  The Creator of the universe is going to be submissive?  To whom?  Jesus is God.... This is one of the beauties and mysteries of the Holy Trinity.  God the Son was and is completely submissive to God the Father.  Amazing.


Jesus came quietly without much fanfare.  Think of a movie premiere or the craziness that surrounds the celebrities within the entertainment industry.  There were no paparazzi at the birth of Christ.  While Jesus had hundreds and later thousands of followers during his ministry, he did not demand this attention.  He did not even ask for this attention.

Today's celebrities are the opposite of meek.  They are not quiet, or gentle, and certainly are not submissive.  Did you know that celebrities make requests for their dressing rooms when they travel and make appearances?  Here are some very NON-MEEK requests.  (taken from Fame Focus website)

Rihanna

Rihanna requests five AC power outlets, adequate lighting for a “relaxed atmosphere,” white drapes to cover lockers and/or brick, one humidifier, a large throw rug — plush and animal print (Cheetah, Leopard), and the room to be draped in either dark blue or black with icy blue chiffon. Rihanna insists on two Archipelago Black Forest candles, and four small clear square vases with white tulips or Casablanca lilies.

Jay-Z & Beyonce

Jay-Z requests seven dressing rooms for him and his entourage, a love seat and one couch and two matching end tables. For libation, Jay asks for two cases of Fiji water (24 cold/24 room temperature), six cans of Coke, six cans of Red Bull, six bottles of Vitamin water, as well as one hot tea service for four. His food preferences are modest with a jar of good-quality peanut butter, one jar of good-quality jelly and a loaf of wheat bread. Didn’t peg him as a PBJ guy.

Beyonce demands that her dressing room be kept at 78 degrees and feature one large table with white linens, four new white towels (two face, two body) and a CD player. Beyoncé also requests heavily seasoned chicken legs and wings with cayenne pepper, steamed broccoli, green beans, spinach and rose-scented candles. The singer can’t have any Coca-Cola products backstage because of her contract with Pepsi, so she asks for one case of Aquafina water (half cold, half room temperature) and one hot tea set-up with sliced lemon wedges.

Katy Perry

The “California Girl” supposedly has a four-page list of her backstage demands and the singer’s requests are very specific. Perry asks for an arrangement of pink fresh flowers, white and purple hydrangeas, pink & white roses and peonies (ABSOLUTELY NO CARNATIONS), a box of Huggies baby nature care wipes, a bowl of whole fresh organic grown fruit, a plate of fresh-cut crudités with ranch dip, Snyder’s Honey Mustard & Onion pretzels, one jar of salsa, baked blue corn tortilla chips and freeze dried strawberries. To keep her voice performance-ready, the star requests six Vitamin waters, two bottles of Santa Margarita Pinot Grigio, Throat Coat, Twinnings Chamomile PG Tips and Mint Medley tea, Fuze Slenderize, a jar of quality honey and plastic drinking straws. The star also demands that no staff members speak to her. Can we say DIVA?

Is this silly, or what?  

Can you imagine Jesus preparing to enter Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) and saying, "On second thought, forget about that little donkey I mentioned earlier, bring me instead a white elephant from Egypt (do they even have elephants in Egypt?) with a purple tail.  Be sure you have a medium-sized clay pot with water from the Jordan river.  You shall lead this purple-tailed, white Egyptian elephant around with a black cord which has a pale blue ring at the end of it.  Now go, hurry, bring me these requests so I can "meekly" enter Jerusalem."

This is just NOT how Jesus wants us to behave.

This is how our God entered Jerusalem, he didn't even ask for the palm branches.  He requested nothing except the donkey.  The donkey was part of Christ's prophecy which was in the Old Testament.  So, in reality, the only request Christ made was made in obedience to God the Father who had stated centuries before how the Messiah would enter Jerusalem.  The request for a little donkey was made by Jesus not because He wanted to make a big production about his coming to the city, but to fulfill a prophecy set by God the Father.  This is meekness.

Question 3:  In your opinion, why is it so important that Christ showed meekness?

COMPASSION:  sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.

This video explains compassion perfectly.

Read in your YouCat 328-331 p.182-185.  As always read the quotes in the margins, too.

Question 4:  What does Humility, Meekness, and Compassion have to do with these YouCat questions?

MERCY:  compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.

So, even though it is within God's power to punish us.... we have been loved and forgiven.

St. Teresa of Calcutta was recently declared a saint. She was an amazing person who suffered much.

Watch this little clip about St. Teresa. Click --> Video

Question 5:  What must we have to not only forgive, but also forget?