September 20, Twenty-Fifth Sunday

The Lord upholds my life.--Psalm 54:6

Mass readings: Wisdom 2:12,17-20 / James 3:16-4:3 / Mark 9:30-37

The First and the Last

Cardinal Avery Dulles, S.J., a great theologian who died last year at 90, was an example of the child-like humility Jesus advocates today. Born into one of America's most influential families, he became a Catholic at Harvard and a Jesuit after World War II. A splendid scholarly career followed. In recent years, he developed post-polio syndrome. In 2001, the pope named him a cardinal though he wasn't a bishop.

Cardinal Dulles characteristically downplayed this gesture. In his last lecture, he said that ''the pearl of great price'' is not academic accomplishments, but ''the Lord Jesus himself.'' In his last agonizing days, he often smiled at an ''Alice in Wonderland'' mural on his wall. A young Jesuit had drawn the lanky Dulles as the Mad Hatter.

Prayer: Jesus, help us to imitate the many holy models of humility who live among us.