I know that this is a very touchy problem for many people. Every time somebody calls us "a stupid" we immediately react being offended. We do things that do not make any sense but as long nobody calls us "stupid" we are fine with it.
One of the major problems we are facing in the Church and in the world is that many Christians do not see a difference between being a humble and being a stupid.
Humble: not proud or haughty: not arrogant or assertive.
Stupid: given to unintelligent decisions or acts : acting in an unintelligent or careless manner.
Both explanations comes from the English dictionary.
Here are two different words that for some reason are misunderstood in the life of many Catholics.
First let's look at the prophet Sirach:
"Those who keep the Law control their thoughts;
perfect fear of the Lord is wisdom.
One who is not clever (stupid / fool) can never be taught,
but there is a cleverness filled with bitterness.
The knowledge of the wise wells up like a flood,
and their counsel like a living spring.
A fool’s mind is like a broken jar:
it cannot hold any knowledge at all.
When the intelligent hear a wise saying,
they praise it and add to it.
The wanton hear it with distaste
and cast it behind their back.
A fool’s chatter is like a load on a journey,
but delight is to be found on the lips of the intelligent.
The views of the prudent are sought in an assembly,
and their words are taken to heart.
Like a house in ruins is wisdom to a fool;
to the stupid, knowledge is incomprehensible chatter.
To the senseless, education is fetters on the feet,
like manacles on the right hand.
Fools raise their voice in laughter,
but the prudent at most smile quietly.e
Like a gold ornament is education to the wise,
like a bracelet on the right arm.
A fool steps boldly into a house,
while the well-bred are slow to make an entrance.f
A boor peeps through the doorway of a house,
but the educated stay outside.
It is rude for one to listen at a door;
the discreet person would be overwhelmed by the disgrace.
The lips of the arrogant talk of what is not their concern,
but the discreet carefully weigh their words.
The mind of fools is in their mouths,
but the mouth of the wise is in their mind.*
When the godless curse their adversary,*
they really curse themselves.
Slanderers sully themselves,
and are hated by their neighbors." (Sirach 21:11-28)
I do not know why, we as Catholics became so afraid to point out the truth and wisdom, and for some reason we are so willingly embracing the foolishness and stupidity of this world. Maybe it is because of a sin of pride - a fouls humbleness in a pride.
In the Gospel according to Matthew 10,16 our Lord Jesus Christ said "Look, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as snakes and yet innocent as doves." He is asking us to use our own intelligence and His grace to be able to walk across the world of human foolishness and sin and bring the light of His truth.
In the Book of Proverbs 24.9 God said: "Folly dreams of nothing but sin, the mocker is abhorrent."
If Christ is asking us to be cunning as snakes and yet innocent as doves it means he doesn't want us to be fools and stupid, but to use all the potential of gifts He gave us. To be a disciple of our Lord requires from us our full involvement based on the reality of the gifts we have received. Foolishness and stupidity are sins agains God. In the Gospel according to Mark 7:20-23, a folly is one of the thing that Jesus condemns and rejects.
So today we should ask ourselves a very basic question. Are we wise in the wisdom of God or fools in our own stupidity based on pride and arrogance? May Prophet Sirach help you to give the answers. Even more, may he helps us to make a good life.