We have today an even greater theme for our Sunday readings: Humility.
Humility in Filipino (Tagalog) is kababaang loob.
Humility is a recognition of self in relation to God, The Almighty and Loving Father, and acceptance of ones limitation.
Humility is a modest opinion or estimate of ones own importance or rank.
Humility is a quality of not being arrogant.
According to Saint Augustine, humility is the mother of all virtues, which means it is easier to for us to develop or learn other virtues if we are to work and acquire the virtue of humility first.
Humility is a cheerful virtue.
A humble person is usually a happy person.
A humble person is teachable.
Humility is not an easy trait to develop because it’s opposite, pride is a trait we all have, by virtue of the original sin. Pride is a spiritual vice because it’s imbedded in our soul, through the original sin and therefore not easy to unlearn.
Here are the words of C.S. Lewis on pride:
“Pride is The Great Sin.”
“According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea bites in comparison. It was through pride that the devil became the devil.
“Pride leads to every other vice. It is the complete anti-God state of mind.
“Pride is a sickness, which we are unconscious of in ourselves. If you want to find out how proud you are the easiest way is to ask yourself ‘how much do I dislike it when other people snub me or refuse to take notice of me?.’
“Pride has been the chief cause of misery in every nation and every family since the world began”
There are two important things we need to do to develop humility: ask The Lord to help us slowly develop humility and actual practice and regular exercises in humility. Examples: Saying sorry to your subordinate when you commit a mistake. Listening patiently and sincerely to everyone because everyone is important in the eyes of God. Going to a confession. The Lord’s washing the feet of the apostles. Saint Francis begging food to his neighbors. Pope Francis, when he was still a Cardinal, cooking his own food and riding a public bus transport to work. Riding a jeep or tricycle when your friends always see you riding your own car. Accepting a manual , lower paying job because you need to provide for your family.
It is important that our knowledge and consciousness about the importance of humility, and the evilness and the deadliness of pride should continue to grow. They are two of the most important things in life, because our spirituality, whichever way they go, will be affected.
And for our final word, here is a quote from The Sacred Truth Book:
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom”— (Proverbs 11:2).
May The Good Lord help us all acquire this beautiful trait called humility !
To all who are celebrating the lunar new year, the Chinese New Year, family, relatives, friends, classmates, Happy New Year !