HE WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED 22ND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR, 1st SEPTEMBER 2013 SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES: SIRACH 3:19-21, 30-31; HEBREWS 12:18-19, 22-24; LUKE 14:1, 7-14 FR. GERALD M. MUSA ------------------------------------------ Pride is one of the sins known as the capital sins. The Book of proverbs states the things ,which the Lord detests and pride is listed first among them: • A proud look • A lying tongue • Hands that shed innocent blood • A heart that devises wicked plots • Feet that are swift to run into mischief • A deceitful witness that utters lies (6:16-19) I have always wondered what us maliciously proud to the extent of dismissing other people as inferiors. In most cases, he source of pride emanate from who and what we think we are, where we come from (tribal, racial and family background), the opportunities, privileges and wealth which we have, etc. But the scripture gives us a clear instruction saying, ‘the greater you are, the more you should behave humbly’ (Ecclesiasticus 3:19-21). The symptoms of pride are very evident and it is important for us Christians to constantly go through a spiritual check-up and self-examination to know if the disease of pride is beginning to take root in their lives. Some of the symptoms of pride include: • Self-obsession and constantly setting ourselves higher and above every other person • Destructive and bitter criticism of other people as well as getting into a habit of fault-finding • Display of self-righteousness and a denial of our imperfections and weaknesses • Dependence on personal will and rejection of God’s will.‘Pride says to itself, "My will be done." Humility says to God, "Thy will be done." • Inordinate ambition and desire to grab power and wealth by hook or crook • Boasting about talents, achievements and qualities (blowing our trumpets) without acknowledging God who is the giver of all we have and are. Paul was very much concerned about Christians whose life was destroyed by pride and so he wrote to the early Christians at Philippi saying: ‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourself’ (Philippians 2:3). The parents of Sarah Hughes, who is an Olympic gold medallist in skating, told their daughter: ‘It is nice to be important, but it is more important to be nice.’ Humility is the opposite of pride, forcefulness and aggression, and to be humble means to be ordinary, simple, modest and unpretentious. It is a virtue, which is closely associated with gentleness and meekness. A writer, Kent Crokett recounts an interesting story on humility. He said, ‘A church realized the importance of humility, so it formed a committee to find the most humble person in the church. Many names were submitted and numerous candidates evaluated. Finally, the committee came to a unanimous decision. They selected a quiet little man who always lived in the background and had never taken credit for anything he had done. They awarded him the "Most Humble" button for his faithful service. However, the next day they had to take it away from him because he pinned it (the award) on.’ The scriptures talk extensively about the virtue of humility. God becoming man through the incarnation is the greatest example of humility in our history of salvation. Jesus, God made man extolled the virtue of humility in his teaching. He said ‘the greatest among you must be the servant.’ He adds, blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the land. He also advises that he who humbles himself will be exalted and the one who exalts himself will be humbled. In addition, he instructs his listeners to imitate the humility and simplicity of little children. The scripture constantly speaks of the messianic banquet in which hierarchy is not the norm. It is a banquet where everyone will be equal and a first-born child. It is an inclusive banquet and everyone is invited not because of his social status, wealth or power, but simply because of the goodness and kindness of God (Hebrew 12:18-19, 22-24). St. James in his epistle also instructs Christians to be humble when he said, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Furthermore, he said, ‘humble thyself in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you high (James 4:6, 10). One of the most inspiring verses on humility are those of the prophet Micah in which he says, Act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).
Posted on: Sat, 31 Aug 2013 06:48:42 +0000
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