From the Principal

DECADE OF TRUTH

GENEROSITY and HUMILITY

At the commencement of this decade, it was declared that for all Monicans we were entering a Decade of Truth, six particular Kingdom Values that if lived out authentically in our lives would support and inspire us and proclaim the Word of God to the world. 

This is the second in a series of three editions when the six Kingdom Values chosen to proclaim will be presented.

Generosity is a beautiful act of reaching out and sharing or supporting a person in need.  Not necessarily am I referring to a person experiencing poverty, he/she may be in need of one’s time, care, presence, understanding, willingness to listen, and walking beside the other.

The Gospels call on Christians to be generous of heart.  So do the tenets of other faith traditions.  I do not see any possibility for a religion to survive if it is not teaching its followers to be kind and generous in their treatment of others, and in their attitude to life.  The opposite to generosity is to be self-centred, mean, unkind, selfish, and uncaring.  No religious faith proclaims this lifestyle.

Jesus called on all those of His time to be generous.  He called the poor ‘blessed’.  This included the poor in material wealth in addition to those poor in spirit.  The generous soul must determinedly take the decision to be generous, evidenced by the widow’s mite, the beggar denied the crumbs from the rich man’s table, the parables Jesus told about His Father caring for all, even the birds in the trees.

St Monica’s College encourages its members, young and adult, to be generous, even proclaiming it in this Decade of Truth.  One would hope that in return the beneficiary would demonstrate gratitude (of which I have written previously) and appreciation. 

Humility is another beautiful way of living out and discovering Truth in this special decade.  Saint Madeleine Sophie wrote, “Be humble, be kind, bring joy to others.”   What a gift to humanity for a leader to lead in humility, service leadership to the fore. Outrageous vanity, crude showing-off, arrogant pride, bombastic trumpeting of one’s own special and ‘unique’ gifts and talents are deplorable.

To be humble is again to make a decision to live one’s life in that style and mode.  There is great strength in humility, to be humble is to be strong and is not a paradox. Rather, it is a way of life that honors self, others, and is in harmony with the message of Jesus. 

Immediately one thinks about the humility of Jesus being nailed to the Cross and dying for us.  He earlier told the rich young man to sell all his possessions and follow Him. The young man found such humility too hard to accept. 

Being humble is not at all to be solemn, funereal, quiet and mousy, instead it is to see the happiness and the joy and the fun to live a life of joy and simplicity.  To be satisfied: To be content: To be at peace with oneself and the world.  Leo XIV, our new Pope, promises to be a model of humility.

Next edition I shall reflect on the final two Kingdom values.  Meantime, be generous towards others and follow the wise counsel of Saint Madeleine Sophie and bring joy to others through your humility.  

Brian E. Hanley OAM

Principal