Pope's humility,a lesson for all

By Dr. Chris Anthony
Butterworth, Malaysia
Op/Ed
Catholic Online

September 22, 2006 - Humility is not a sign of weakness

The recent controversy that arose from Pope Benedict XVI's statement regarding violence and Islam created a lot of tensions in the world. The Pope was very right in saying that all religions renounce all forms of violence and that nobody should use these acts of aggression against anyone in the name of God.

Many are asking how the brilliant theologian-pope could have been so unaware of the political realities in today's world that he felt he could quote freely, without creating problems, from a 14th-century Byzantine (Orthodox Christian) emperor, then in conflict with the Turkish Muslims, who expressed a negative judgment on Muhammad and jihad.

The Pope, being no ordinary man, may have his own reasons for what he said but the statement was made at the wrong time when Muslim world is over-sensitive to criticism as a result of 9/11 and the events that followed. They have the wrong perception that Christians are waging a war against them. If only they realize that Christ preached love even to our enemies, they will not be suspicious of us and would be more receptive to the idea of dialogue for peaceful solution of inter-faith disputes.

What impressed me in this whole affair was the prompt apology from the Pope, not once but several times, when he realized what he said had hurt the feelings of the Muslims all over. Without much prompting and persuasion he quickly apologized when he realized his "mistake" could cause unrest and even death of innocent people. He has acted in the true spirit of the humility of Christ himself.

Not many of us can do that freely. In our daily lives we say and do so many things that hurt the feelings of others. Many a times we do not even realize that we have hurt others. Even when we finally realize our mistake our ego prevents us from apologizing.

By washing the feet of his apostles, Jesus had demonstrated the most extreme form of humility and love for man and this love resulted in the ultimate sacrifice of His life for us on the cross.

As the followers of Jesus, do we possess that humility and love for others, especially those below us? Are we willing to sacrifice whatever we can for the betterment of others? These are the questions we must pose to ourselves and ponder.

Our Holy Father's action of humble apology should be a lesson for us in our relationship with those we encounter daily - our spouse, our children, parents, priests, friends and particularly our subordinates and those with dissenting views. If only we can admit our mistakes and say "I am sorry" to them, it would solve a lot of our problems, but that unfortunately, is the most difficult thing to do.

If only our political leaders possess this great virtue of humility, we would not be faced with the current problems in the world. It was the humility of Anwar Sadat that brought peace between Egypt and Israel. If only George Bush had been humble enough to meet Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the United Nations recently, his problems with Iran may be more easily dealt with.

Very often humility is seen as a sign of weakness when actually is a sign of strength and a divine gift to man.

Contact

JLC Consultancy
http://drctoni.blogspot.com , MY
Chris Anthony - Director, 604 3513959

Email

drchris@inbox.com

Keywords

Humility

More Catholic PRWire

Showing 1 - 50 of 4,716

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »

A Recession Antidote
Randy Hain

Monaco & The Vatican: Monaco's Grace Kelly Exhibit to Rome--A Review of Monegasque-Holy See Diplomatic History
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.

The Why of Jesus' Death: A Pauline Perspective
Jerom Paul

A Royal Betrayal: Catholic Monaco Liberalizes Abortion
Dna. Maria St.Catherine De Grace Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.

Embrace every moment as sacred time
Mary Regina Morrell

My Dad
JoMarie Grinkiewicz

Letting go is simple wisdom with divine potential
Mary Regina Morrell

Father Lombardi's Address on Catholic Media
Catholic Online

Pope's Words to Pontifical Latin American College
Catholic Online

Prelate: Genetics Needs a Conscience
Catholic Online

State Aid for Catholic Schools: Help or Hindrance?
Catholic Online

Scorsese Planning Movie on Japanese Martyrs
Catholic Online

2 Nuns Kidnapped in Kenya Set Free
Catholic Online

Holy See-Israel Negotiation Moves Forward
Catholic Online

Franchising to Evangelize
Catholic Online

Catholics Decry Anti-Christianity in Israel
Catholic Online

Pope and Gordon Brown Meet About Development Aid
Catholic Online

Pontiff Backs Latin America's Continental Mission
Catholic Online

Cardinal Warns Against Anti-Catholic Education
Catholic Online

Full Circle
Robert Gieb

Three words to a deeper faith
Paul Sposite

Relections for Lent 2009
chris anthony

Wisdom lies beyond the surface of life
Mary Regina Morrell

World Food Program Director on Lent
Catholic Online

Moral Clarity
DAN SHEA

Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
Catholic Online

A Prayer for Monaco: Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe

Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness
Sally Connolly

Glimpse of Me
Sarah Reinhard

The 3 stages of life
Michele Szekely

Sex and the Married Woman
Cheryl Dickow

A Catholic Woman Returns to the Church
Cheryl Dickow

Modernity & Morality
Dan Shea

Just a Minute
Sarah Reinhard

Catholic identity ... triumphant reemergence!
Hugh McNichol

Edging God Out
Paul Sposite

Burying a St. Joseph Statue
Cheryl Dickow

George Bush Speaks on Papal Visit
Catholic Online

Sometimes moving forward means moving the canoe
Mary Regina Morrell

Action Changes Things: Teaching our Kids about Community Service
Lisa Hendey

Easter... A Way of Life
Paul Spoisite

Papal initiative...peace and harmony!
Hugh McNichol

Proclaim the mysteries of the Resurrection!
Hugh McNichol

Jerusalem Patriarch's Easter Message
Catholic Online

Good Friday Sermon of Father Cantalamessa
Catholic Online

Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross
Catholic Online

Cardinal Zen's Meditations for Via Crucis
Catholic Online

Interview With Vatican Aide on Jewish-Catholic Relations
Catholic Online

Pope Benedict XVI On the Easter Triduum
Catholic Online

Holy Saturday...anticipation!
Hugh McNichol

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »