The readings last Sunday tells us about a virtue which is the basis of all others, humility. It is so necessary that Jesus takes every opportunity in the Gospels to teach this virtue. The law of humility as explained in today’s Gospel says:
Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted. So, greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven comes from humility and service: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven (Mt 5:3).
The first reading teaches us to conduct our affairs with humility, and we will be loved:
humble yourself and you will find favour with God. The greater you are, the more you should behave humbly (Sir 3:17-20).
It was pride that changed a third of the most majestic Angels into horrible demons, led by Lucifer the prince of demons.
The most- humble people who ever lived were Jesus and Mary. Yet Jesus is also God and Mary, full of grace and unlike us, born without a fallen nature. She would have been more gifted by nature and grace, than any other human being, yet She is the humble handmaid of the Lord. There is no place before God for pride. The pride person stinks in God’s sight. They are abominable. St Paul talks of the kenosis or self-emptying of the eternal Son of God who took on our human nature and became humbler yet, even to the point of dying on a cross He is now the bridge between Heaven and earth. For the creature to enter Heaven, there can be no pride whatsoever, only littleness and love before the vision of the Supreme Godhead. So, let’s get rid of the pride that hinders our relationship with the Lord, for:
God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6).
God’s creation teaches about humility. Consider the tallest and most fruitful of trees. They continue to stand despite storms, wind and earthquakes. What gives them the vitality to bear fruit year after year and to spread goodness to all living things. It is their roots. Without deep, strong roots the tree would crash to the ground with the first storm. Without wide, expansive roots, it could not absorb the nourishment and moisture necessary for putting out leaves, buds, flowers and fruit. But these all-important roots are completely hidden. They are at the lowest place where nobody pays attention to them.
Without the root of humility our lives cannot bear the fruits of authentic happiness, for ourselves and for those around us. But when we humble ourselves as Christ did, our lives become fruitful and vibrant, both here on the earth and will be forever in Heaven.
Each one of us must walk humbly with the Lord every day, be godly in your moral life, little in your own eyes and slow to judge others and rich in mercy. Avoid criticising others and fault finding, this is not what Our Lady and the Saints of the Church did. All sin stems from pride, whether it is jealousy, envy, spitefulness, impurity, unforgiveness etc.
How do we grow in this essential virtue of humility? Firstly, pray more. When we pray, we acknowledge God’s greatness and our total dependence on Him. Prayer forms the heart, and we grow in all the virtues through true devotion, for example the Holy Rosary and Eucharistic Adoration. We also grow in littleness through consecration to the Immaculate Heart. As a child of Mary, Our Lady helps us grow in her own virtues, especially humility and trust. The Holy Rosary is like our umbilical cord connecting us to our Spiritual Mother in Heaven, whom the Church has named as Mediatrix of all grace.
Secondly, stop talking about so much about yourself. Try to see Christ in your neighbour and don’t ever be judgemental and abusive.
Thirdly, go to Confession regularly. For the Christian serious about growing in virtue and overcoming faults weekly Confession is ideal. The late St John Paul II went to Confession every day because he was so attuned to God’s Will and detested sin so much. Through Confession we grow in grace and self-knowledge. It is also the common form of exorcism.
Finally, imitate Our Lady and the Saints in littleness. Forget about yourself. Our Lady’s richness is therefore only that of the little and poor: humility, faith, abandonment, hope. Try and put all your gifts and talents more at the service of others. Avoid criticising others and fault finding, this is not what Our Lady and the Saints of the Church did, they did the oppositive and were gentle and kind towards all. St Augustine had been a very proud young man before his conversion, but he learnt the lesson later on and when he was asked to name the three most important virtues, Augustine replied: “humility, humility, and humility” (Ep. 118.22).
Praise be Jesus Christ and the humble Handmaid of the Lord, now and forever!