How many times have we thought, “If only so-and-so would change, I would finally find my peace and joy!” Along those lines, we may be thinking of how we might teach such a person a lesson, as we see clearly where their faults lie.
In the Gospel this Sunday, we see Jesus teaching the lesson: recognize your own faults and limitations, and then everything else will take care of itself. In other words, if you can recognize your pride and selfishness—and thus your need for mercy—then you will be ready to help others. Moreover, you will discover that your help for others (taking out their splinters) will be done without resentment or anger but rather as an act of love and encouragement. You will be able to do it with humility.
Humility is that elusive virtue where we can say: “If we think we are humble, we are not, and if we are humble, we will not be thinking about it.” While we cannot be humble by our own efforts, we can trust that God will allow us to grow in humility.
Let’s look at a few insights into humility inspired by the universal doctor of the Church, St. Thomas Aquinas:
Humility leads to magnanimity, the virtue of striving for greatness. True humility does not lead to self-abasement but rather to a genuine pursuit of excellence and service to others.
Humility is a response to God’s grace, a recognition of the gifts and talents we have received and a desire to use them for the good of others.
Christ’s humility is the ultimate example, highlighting His willingness to humble Himself—even to the point of death on the cross—for the salvation of humanity.
Humility is a necessary foundation for all other virtues, as it allows individuals to recognize their own limitations and seek truth and goodness from God.
This last point is profound. First, notice the words “necessary foundation”—enough said. We also read that humility allows us to recognize our own limitations. That is worth pondering. Are limitations and weaknesses in our lives really so bad? Should they be a cause of fear and shame, or rather something we rejoice in?
I am limited, but God is infinite; therefore, I can rejoice in my littleness because it allows me to be immersed in the unlimited power and love of God.
Finally, with humility, we seek truth and goodness from God—the keyword here being seek. Let us then seek together truth and goodness, where our God will allow us to experience a heart that is meek and humble.
United in prayer as we enter this season of Lent.
In Christ,
Fr. Philip
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