It's interesting how nearly every writer, every news reporter comments on one outstanding characteristic of Pope Francis I: his humility.
Perhaps we appreciate it so much because it was such a significant characteristic (perhaps the most significant?) of Jesus and we find it so difficult to achieve ourselves (at least I do):
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (Phil. 2:4-6 NKJV)As she often does, Peggy Noonan shows great insight in today's column, expressing appreciation for the new pope's humility and hoping that this trait in him will bring about reform in the Roman Catholic Church. She sees that the opposite of humility has caused the scandals that have plagued the Church of Rome:
"The Catholic Church in 2013 is falling into ruin. The church has been damaged by scandal and the scandals arose from arrogance, conceit, clubbiness and an assumption that the special can act in particular ways, that they may make mistakes but it's understandable, and if it causes problems the church will take care of it."
While Reformed Protestants have many differences with Roman Catholics, we do share this in common: we all fall into sin. Like the Roman Catholics, we can be guilty of "arrogance, conceit, clubbiness, and an assumption that the special can act in particular ways." These sins, unaddressed, can lead us into scandal.
May we seek the antidote to our "unhumility" at the cross, where we see the greatest display of humility in history. May this mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus.
