Humility of the Facade

When a dress code in Church is brought up, you would hear echoes of "what is important is what is in your heart". The very same people would judge Pope Francis based on the physical as humble and adjudged Benedict as extravagant. This shallow judgment callers would use "who am I to judge?" as the slogan of mercy, compassion, and humility.

Daniel Burke's "The lavish homes of American archbishops" at CNN chronicles the residences of US bishop and judged them by the humility of Francis.

The residence of Pope Francis, not the imaginary, but the real one is featured in the Italian journal La Istampa, entitled "Pope in Square Meters and Demagoguery." or as translated with a little commentary at Rorate Caeli, entitled, "The High Cost of Frugal Living".

The choice of Domus Sanctae Marthae is not really a cost-cutting measure nor a show of humility. It is just a personal preference. Very much like politicians do not want "hand-me-downs" of previous regimes. In the case of P. Francis, it might be quite extreme.

STEWARDSHIP OF THE GIFT

It boils down to the stewardship of the gifts. Many things have been given to us. Some may be deemed good, some bad. Do we out rightly reject what's been given? What will we do with the rejected gifts? Will a new one really be efficacious? Or will the new one become old just as easily and would need again for a replacement?

There's room for the old and new in the scheme of life. What matters is the stewardship of the gifts? What may be perceived as humility can actually be arrogance that rejects the gifts? What may be perceived as lavish can actually be a humble acceptance of a gift for a better purpose and not self-serving? Still, it can go the other way. A humble exterior can truly have a humility of heart that recognizes God as the giver of gifts and feels sufficiently endowed that there is no neediness. A lavish exterior can actually reflect an extravagant, self-indulgent, or even corrupt lifestyle.

Our perception must be honed to look at the bigger picture and deeper into the heart of things. If we go by the surface, we will easily be fooled by propaganda, or much worst be taken in by a false prophet.