Fr Antonio Pineda
esus loves humility—the readings this Sunday Gospel illustrate this. His entire life in our world was also a picture of humility: after all, he chose to be born in a stable and not a palace, and he came to serve rather than be served. But what is humility?
A wise man once said that humility isn’t thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less. This means that when you’re being humble, you don’t consider yourself to be of less value or worth than others or that you lack self-esteem. But rather, you’re willing to put other people’s needs ahead of yours. Humility is taking the spotlight off ourselves. When we do this, we become more open to the people around us. That’s what both Sirach and Jesus tell us in the readings.
Humility is an essential ingredient to healthy relationships. It helps us in two ways: we see people differently, and they see us differently. In the first reading, Sirach noticed this link. That’s why he counselled his son to conduct his affairs with humility. Humble people are more equipped to see the needs, desires, and struggles of the people around them. Not only that, but there’s something attractive about a person who doesn’t put himself first. It makes people want to try to connect with them.
Jesus said something similar in his parable about taking the lowest place at a banquet. As we take our attention off what we think we deserve or what we think will make us look good, we stop trying to claim recognition for ourselves. That makes more inclined to treat other people with respect and honour. And that opens us to the love that God wants to flow between us.
In the past, you might have thought that a humble person was someone who lets other people walk all over them. No-one wants that! The truth is, true humility requires great strength. Choosing to put other people ahead of yourself goes against a lot of ingrained habits and self-interest, especially in our society today. But it will make you free to love the people around you. And you’ll find that this kind of love opens up a curious dynamic: the more you give it away, the more it comes back to you.