“If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are.” Saint Theresa of Calcutta

It is hard to be humble! This is a struggle that I face when I do any task. Almost unconsciously I long for recognition, I long for attention, I long for acknowledgement. But in today’s Gospel proclamation the Lord Jesus clearly states. “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

In the world humility has a bad reputation; this is because many people do not understand what humility is. It is not thinking of ourselves as beneath other people, but rather it is taking ourselves off the pedestal and placing God at the center of our lives. Trusting that God will take care of our needs.

The Lord Jesus is the embodiment of true humility. The Lord Jesus’ attitude was one of service, obedience and sacrifice. It was one that sought the good of others, one that was willing to lay down his rights and privileges to glorify the Father. Scripture repeatedly tells us that the purpose for which we were created, our reason for being alive, is to glorify God by doing the work we have been given by God, not for ourselves but for God and for others.

We cannot force ourselves to be humble. But by daily walking with God and growing in a deep and abiding relationship with him we slowly change from within. As we follow the responsorial psalm’s invitation, grow in our trust of the Lord and make God our heart’s delight, He becomes the center of our existence.

Our inner needs are met by his provision. We stop looking for approval from those around us and we stop being hurt by the rejection of people. God becomes our satisfaction. This frees our inner being, our lives are blessed, and we in turn become a blessing to others.

Prayer: Abba Father, I acknowledge my inability to be humble. Help me grow to be more like you. Amen.

Source : On our Knees publication