In 1806 Noah Webster published A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language. It took Webster decadesof research to compile his dictionary. I wonder if little Noah had a fascination with words when he was very young. Did he ace all his spelling tests and annoyingly correct his friends’ grammar? I don’t know, but I do know Webster became, and still is, an authority on words and their meaning.

Poet Emily Dickinson once commented that the Webster Dictionary was her “only companion” for years. One biographer said, “The dictionary was no mere reference book to her; she read it as a priest his breviary – over and over, page by page, with utter absorption.” As a poet and writer, it makes sense that Dickinson and others use Webster as their authority on the meaning of words. But I would suggest that although we have grown up with Webster, our greatest authority on words and their meanings as Catholic Christians comes from the Bible – the very Word of God.

There is a theme in our readings this weekend: humility. Webster says humility is: “the state or quality of being humble. Showing awareness of one’s defects; not proud; not self-assertive. Lowly in condition or rank.” But when we look to the Bible, we find a different meaning evident in our readings. God says when you are humble, you are free from pride and arrogance. You know that in your flesh you are inadequate, YET you also know who you are in Christ! The picture of humility in the Bible is one of a STRONG person who loves others. Not someone who is a wimp!

True humility is not feeling bad about yourself, or having a low opinion of yourself. It’s not thinking of yourself as inferior to others. True humility frees us from preoccupation with ourselves, whereas a low self-opinion tends to focus our attention on ourselves. Viewing ourselves truthfully means seeing ourselves the way God sees us. A humble person makes a just evaluation of his worth. He regards himself neither smaller nor larger than he truly is. True humility
frees us to be ourselves.

When we see humility in action, it is clear that only the strong among us can truly be humble. It takes a strong person to turn away from an argument. It is only the strong that can treat someone who has wronged you with peace and gentleness rather than vengeance or revenge. When you are humble you can respond to and learn from criticism without becoming defensive – whether it is deserved or not deserved. Even if you think you are only 1% wrong, you can easily apologize for what you did wrong. You can talk courteously and lovingly, even when you need to be firm or take strong action.

Just as Emily Dickinson scoured the dictionary over and over, page by page, with utter absorption, may WE scour the Bible over and over, page by page, with utter absorption. God has a lot to say, we just need to be humble and listen!

-Justine Dufour