Reflection on Humility

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

“Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Mat. 18:4)

In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches that the virtue of greatness is humility. He tells us that whoever humbles himself like a child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. Now, humility is not humiliation or subordination or sycophancy. What then is humility? The Greek word used by Jesus and the Apostles to convey the meaning of humility is “tapeinos” which is having a right view of ourselves before God and others. While pride is an exalted sense of who we are in relation to God and others, humility is having a realistic sense of who we are before God and others. Humility is a virtue that elevates and exalts a person. If love or charity is the key to heaven, humility is the lock. 

Pride is a universal human problem. Everyone suffers from it to some degree. Each of us is hunted by pride, and only those who are aware of this hunting ghost that lives in each of us and know about its catastrophic effects may be able to overcome it by a constant spiritual exercise of humility. Pride does not exalt a person, rather it overfeeds a person’s ego, puts so much air into it, make it over-bloated and if unchecked could wreak a soul. Pride is the root of all sin, while humility according to St. John Chrysostom “is the root, mother, nurse, foundation and bond of all virtue.”

So, how do we humble ourselves? First, make a firm decision to ponder and understand Jesus’ way, especially his strong emphasis on humility. Second, desire to be humble. Third, pray to the Holy Spirit to help change your heart and help you understand who you really are.