In the 1950-s, Sao Kya Seng, the prince of 34 independent Shan states in northeastern Burma, also known as Hsipaw, came to Denver, Colorado, to study agriculture. Since he wanted to experience what it was like to be a student in the US, he kept his identity secret. Not even his professors knew who he really was. One of his fellow students was Inge Eberhard from Austria. Both of them being exchange students, Inge and the Burmese prince quickly found that they had a lot in common and started to spend more and more time together. Their friendship grew into love, but the Burmese prince decided that he would not let on his true identity even though they were seriously dating. He did not want Inge’s decision to date him to be colored by the fact that she could marry into royalty. So when he finally proposed, with an engagement ring of ruby and diamond, Inge still did not know who he really was. Inge said yes and they got married, as any other couple, in the US. For their honeymoon, Sao Kya Seng was taking Inge to his home country, so that she could meet his family and see where he was from. When their ship reached the shores of Burma, hundreds of people were waiting at the harbor. Many of them had gone out in small boat, holding up welcoming signs. A band was playing and some people were tossing flowers at the ship. Surprised at all this excitement Inge turns to her husband and asks whose arrival they are celebrating. “Inge,” he says, I am the prince of Hsipaw. These people are celebrating our arrival. You are now the princess.” *
This story speaks to the decency of a very privileged human being. We often assume that it’s difficult for people who grew up privileged to remain humble and grounded. The truth is: humility is difficult for all of us, let’s not fool ourselves… But the temptation must be greater, so the thinking goes, for those with easy access to money, connections, and the so-called “good life.” And indeed, sometimes, affluence and privilege will get to people, corrupting those who have enjoyed the benefits of wealth and power from an early age. That’s why this story is so precious. The prince was very careful not to play the prince card. Maybe he was also afraid that his true identity might scare off the girl he loved. Not everybody wants to marry a prince. Still, the decency and pure character of Sao Kya Seng comes across in this story, as told by his wife in a memoir she wrote later in life.
It’s always special and praiseworthy when someone chooses not to take advantage of great privilege. That’s certainly how the early Christians felt. So much so, that someone in the community came up with this beautiful hymn to praise the humility of our Lord Jesus Christ. When you read Philippians 2, you can tell that verses 6-11 have a distinct poetic cadence. It flows like a song. This hymn about the Son of God who rejected privilege and became one of us, found its way into Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Paul, offering this text to the church, intends to encourage us to have the same attitude of mind that Jesus had, an attitude marked by humility, a willingness to meet people where they are and experience their burdens. Jesus didn’t play the prince card. Especially in the gospel of Mark, Jesus takes pains to tell everybody not to tell anybody who he really was. He did not want to play the prince card.
So, what does this mean for us? We don’t consider ourselves as “privileged,” or having grown up with great privilege, right? We are not a congregation filled with the sons and daughters of wealthy business people, diplomats, or power brokers. At least, last time I checked that wasn’t the case. Where I grew up it was a big deal to eat out every once in a while, or to go away from home to a nice place during summer vacations. Where I grew up holes in your pants were patched, sometimes in several spots. So, what privilege are we talking about? At some point in our lives, most of us in fact come to realize that we grew up privileged. Globally speaking, we belonged to the most affluent 20% on earth. Emotionally speaking, most of us grew up in a stable household, although I will never assume that; but it’s certainly true for me. And most of us have reason to say, “We have been blessed in life!” And now we hear these words of Paul: “In your relationships with one another, don’t dwell on your privileges, but be of the same mindset that Jesus had.” Seek to be humble! When your culture tells you to brag, don’t brag! When your culture tells you to seek status, don’t seek status! When your culture tells you that more is always better, think twice. And take Jesus’ example to heart.
I guess this morning is story hour, because I have another one for you. This one has been told in many different versions and is funny, but it is also a serious reflection on our culture. “One evening a man in a Dearborn, Michigan, restaurant bumped into the then famous Chrysler chairman, Lee Iacocca. “Oh, Mr. Iacocca,” the man exclaimed, “what an honor to meet you! My name is Jack and I’m having a business dinner with some colleagues over there at that corner table. Could you do me a favor? It would really impress my friends if you could come over in a few minutes and say, ‘Hi, Jack, buddy,’ like you know me!” Iacocca good-naturedly agreed. A few minutes later he went over to the table and said, “Hello, Jack! How are you?” Jack then looked up and snapped, “Not now, Lee. We’re busy!”
This story underscores the core of pride as it is widely practiced in our culture: people want to look more powerful and impressive than they really are. Or at the very least they want to take what they already have in life and use it as a pedestal from which to look down on as many people as possible. It is no accident that the images typically associated with pride have to do with height: the proud are said to look down at others, are said to always be riding their high horse, are said to have a lofty opinion of themselves and a soaring ego.
The great irony and beauty of the Christian faith is the gospel truth that the one Being in the universe who really is more exalted, more lofty, and more powerful than anyone is the same Being who, far from using his lofty position as a platform for pride, once upon a time stooped lower than low so as humbly to save us from our sinful pride. That’s the essence of Philippians 2. It is also the essence of Christianity, because this short early Christian hymn tells you the story of Christ in a few sentences: his incarnation, the cross, the resurrection, it’s all included. So now, at the beginning of another Holy Week, let us re-examine our values, our dealings with pride, our willingness to emulate Jesus’ example of humility, Jesus’ plain human decency, our willingness to be different when our culture tempts us to take advantage of all we have. It’s a road less traveled. But it is filled with palm branches of hope. And it is filled with pilgrims who bring the good news to our world. It’s a road worth traveling.
Amen.
*Story told in a sermon by Sigurd Grindheim. (From Twilight over Burma: My Life As a Shan Princess, by Inge Sargent.) I also incorporated in this sermon a segment from Scott Hoazee’s excellent piece (2015). He writes for the Center of Excellence in Preaching.