“Humility is not thinking less of yourself. It’s thinking of yourself less.”
― C. S. Lewis
When I was a young adult, I began the journey of trying to understand humility. As my heart longed to know Jesus, the Holy Spirit guided me to the practice of prayer. What would lead me to seek the virtue of humility? The other virtues, compassion, kindness, gentleness and patience all seemed natural, but humility intrigued me. Humility is a special virtue that allows us to get along with others, and to be open to new ideas and views. It is also freeing, as it guards against vanity or the desire to be first or always have the best or latest things. But more importantly, my God requires this virtue of me.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12
One of my daily prayers was the Litany of Humility:
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
From the desire of being loved,
From the desire of being extolled,
From the desire of being honored,
From the desire of being praised,
From the desire of being preferred to others,
From the desire of being consulted,
From the desire of being approved,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated,
From the fear of being despised,
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
From the fear of being calumniated,
From the fear of being forgotten,
From the fear of being ridiculed,
From the fear of being wronged,
From the fear of being suspected,
Deliver me, Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I,
That others may be esteemed more than I,
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease,
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
That others may be praised and I unnoticed,
That others may be preferred to me in everything,
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should.
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. Amen.
Praying for humility is challenging on many levels. First, the world seems to value high achievement, self-love, and self-satisfaction. How tempting it is to feel pride when my achievements are noticed or when arrogance or self-importance sneaks into my heart. I have learned that humility doesn’t require me to give up talents or achievements, or to stop loving myself, but it requires that in all things, the glory must go to God.
Second, asking for help from others can be difficult. The world gives us messages like “you’ve got this,” and “you’re stronger than you know.” Self-reliance makes me feel capable and independent. Sometimes I will try to do all that I can on my own, and only turn to God when I’m clinging to a thread. Humility doesn’t require me to give up or act weak; rather it invites me into a holy surrender, a reminder that I must fully rely on God and put all my trust in Him from the start.
Third, praying for humility means that I must be willing to be humiliated….wait, what? This one is especially difficult for me. No one likes to be embarrassed or humiliated. Humiliation can come in many forms…..like the Israelites in Exodus who were starving, Saul of Tarsus when he was blinded, and Christ on the road to Calvary. When we are in our own deserts of illness, fear, loneliness, hunger, and sorrow, we are helpless and humiliated. I have learned that God allows us to be humiliated for a greater purpose; to be separated from reliance on ourselves, to be emptied from any self-righteousness or pride, and to be filled only by God.
Humility gives me the freedom to keep focused on what matters and the ONE who matters. Every day, with the grace of God, I must choose to set all self aside and choose the path to humility. Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
What a challenging reflection! Thank you for sharing. April