ON THE HUMILITY OF JESUS: “LEARN FROM ME, FOR I AM MEEK AND HUMBLE OF HEART (Lk 11:29).”
In a previous post, we spoke about the vice of pride as the principal enemy of love for God and our neighbor. Now it’s time to speak about the virtue of humility.
St Augustine says: “IF YOU ASK ME WHAT IS THE ESSENTIAL THING IN THE RELIGION AND DISCIPLINE OF JESUS CHRIST, I SHALL REPLY: FIRST HUMILITY, SECOND HUMILITY AND THIRD HUMILITY” (Letter 118). Why? Because HUMILITY IS THE FOUNDATION, THE BASIS OF ALL VIRTUES, including that of love. HUMILITY IS THE FOUNDATION OF LOVE, THE HABITAT OF CHARITY.
The Lord is near to contrite hearts, so ready to defend the humbled spirit (Ps 33:19). The publican stood far off: he would not even lift his eyes up towards heaven; he only beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me; l am a sinner’. The Lord who flouts the scornful, and gives the humble man his grace (Jas 4:6). “LEARN FROM ME, FOR I AM MEEK AND HUMBLE OF HEART”, Our Lord Jesus Christ said.
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ASKS FROM EACH ONE OF US TO IMITATE HIS HUMILITY. “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross” (Phil 2: 5-8).
If we quickly review of His Life, Our Lord’s humility is remarkably evident:
- God becoming man, coming into the earth as a DEFENSELESS CHILD, in NEED of the love and care of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph; born in a MANGER, without pomp and ostentation, in an unknown little city;
- God LIVING JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE during his HIDDEN LIFE in Nazareth, obeying his parents, working as a carpenter, carrying out menial household chores;
- Jesus, Perfect God and Perfect Man, SUBMITTING HIMSELF to John’s Baptism;
- During his Public life, we see him FORGET HIMSELF and always CONCERNED with the material and spiritual WELLBEING OF OTHERS, overcoming his tiredness after travelling long distances in order to SERVE and proclaim the Good News, without even having time for himself to eat;
- His triumphal entry into Jerusalem making use of a DONKEY AS HIS THRONE, instead of a more ostentatious animal;
- We see Him HUMBLY WASHING THE FEET OF THE APOSTLES, a humiliating task reserved for the household servants;
- His SILENCE in the Praetorium; His SUFFERINGS and the INHUMANE TREATMENT RECEIVED during the Passion BORNE WITHOUT ANY COMPLAINT; His TOTAL SELF-GIVING with His Death on the Cross where He showed His HUMBLE MERCY AND COMPASSION FORGIVING THOSE WHO HAVE CRUCIFIED HIM, “for they know not what they are doing”, and the good thief as well;
- His Humility in the Sacrament of the HOLY EUCHARIST, where He transforms the bread and wine into His Body and Blood so that we could receive Him in Holy Communion; and in the TABERNACLE, enclosed, “imprisoned” so that we could approach Him easily whenever we want with the proper dispositions!
Our Lord loves us with a love so immense, willing to SURRENDER and FORGET HIMSELF for our sake; disposed to SACRIFICE AND EMPTY HIMSELF, until the last drop of His Blood for love of us; TOTALLY GIVING HIS LIFE for our happiness and salvation; ever ready to SERVE each one of us, taking upon Himself all the burden of our sins through the Sacrifice on the Cross….ALL THESE WERE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OUR LORD WAS HUMBLE! THE TRIUMPH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S LOVE FOR US WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH HIS HUMILITY.
Dear friends: let us THANK Our Lord for everything He has done out of love for us. Let us never forget that THE TRIUMPH OF GOD’S LOVE WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH HIS HUMILITY. He calls each one of us: “Learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart” (Lk 11:29).
Let us ask the God the Holy Spirit, through the intercession of Our Lady, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, for the virtue of humility and at the same time firmly resolve to forget ourselves, think more of the others, serve the people around us, and put God and others as the center of our life.
Fr. Rolly Arjonillo
THE REMEDY AGAINST PRIDE? HUMILITY. THE MEANS TO ACQUIRE IT Read in https://catholicsstrivingforholiness.org/humility-its-effects-the-means-to-grow-in-this-virtue-and-the-signs-of-lack-of-humility/
WHAT IS HUMILITY? Read in https://catholicsstrivingforholiness.org/on-humility-know-thyself-why-is-it-so-important-humility-the-basis-of-all-virtues-the-dwelling-place-of-love/
PHOTO: Titian, Christ Carrying the Cross in http://upload.wikimedia.org
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