Widely seen as the greatest wide receiver in NFL history, Jerry Rice played much of his career for the San Francisco 49ers. I’ll never forget a point late in his career when he was asked why he still worked so hard. His response was quick and profound, “I’m afraid of not being my best.”
For Catholic speakers (and certainly anyone who is in the spotlight), something similar is at play. What’s different is that none feel that they are the best or have to be the best speaker on Planet Earth. If they did, they would be dealing with a heavy dose of pride.
Their bigger fear, and a healthy one at that, is that they are so busy teaching and speaking that they don’t apply their messages to themselves.
Today’s Gospel (Matthew 9:1-8) shows us Jesus who demonstrates authority and every good teacher knows the value of being a good student, i.e. under the authority of someone else. A student, no matter his age or level of expertise, humbles himself and applies what he learns to himself.
For Catholic speakers (and certainly anyone who is in the spotlight), something similar is at play. What’s different is that none feel that they are the best or have to be the best speaker on Planet Earth. If they did, they would be dealing with a heavy dose of pride.
Their bigger fear, and a healthy one at that, is that they are so busy teaching and speaking that they don’t apply their messages to themselves.
Today’s Gospel (Matthew 9:1-8) shows us Jesus who demonstrates authority and every good teacher knows the value of being a good student, i.e. under the authority of someone else. A student, no matter his age or level of expertise, humbles himself and applies what he learns to himself.