Daily Retreat 11/04/06
2006 Nov 4 Sat: Charles Borromeo, bp M
Phil 1: 18b-26/ Ps 41(42): 2. 3. 5cdef/ Lk 14: 1. 7-11
From today’s readings: “For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.... My soul is thirsting for the living God.... Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted....”
Humility
We’ve all met people who acted with intolerable haughtiness, as if they were the greatest thing in the world. Conversely, we’ve all come across a few admired souls who present themselves with genuine humility. Clearly, the former are a great burden to put up with, whereas the latter are always a joy to have around. Personally, the only times I’ve been upset by the presence of a humble man are when such a man’s humility contrasts so sharply with my own lack of that virtue, that I find myself reddening with shame (at which point the Good Lord always helps me see the grace of that foil, although sometimes I’m too vain to act on it).
Certainly, humility is a central characteristic of Jesus, who emptied Himself of divine prerogatives in order to reveal God’s merciful plan of salvation. And so humility, true humility, reminds us of the emptying, the "kenosis" of the Incarnation.
The question then, since humility is so God-like, and appreciated when we see it in others, is why we are almost afraid to intentionally cultivate this virtue, or even talk and teach much about it. To be sure, it’s very elusive nature makes it practically paradoxical to pursue directly even with the most fervent and focused will, for one can never pledge, “I’m going to be humble, no matter what it takes!”
On the other hand, scripture maintains that it is possible to condition ourselves for this virtue, provided that we have not only the single-minded driven dream of an Olympic athlete racing with all his might toward the finish line, but also the pure absence of self-consciousness, like a child who races to the embracing arms of his loving Father for the fulfillment of the greatest longing of his heart.
Phil 1: 18b-26/ Ps 41(42): 2. 3. 5cdef/ Lk 14: 1. 7-11
From today’s readings: “For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.... My soul is thirsting for the living God.... Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted....”
Humility
We’ve all met people who acted with intolerable haughtiness, as if they were the greatest thing in the world. Conversely, we’ve all come across a few admired souls who present themselves with genuine humility. Clearly, the former are a great burden to put up with, whereas the latter are always a joy to have around. Personally, the only times I’ve been upset by the presence of a humble man are when such a man’s humility contrasts so sharply with my own lack of that virtue, that I find myself reddening with shame (at which point the Good Lord always helps me see the grace of that foil, although sometimes I’m too vain to act on it).
Certainly, humility is a central characteristic of Jesus, who emptied Himself of divine prerogatives in order to reveal God’s merciful plan of salvation. And so humility, true humility, reminds us of the emptying, the "kenosis" of the Incarnation.
The question then, since humility is so God-like, and appreciated when we see it in others, is why we are almost afraid to intentionally cultivate this virtue, or even talk and teach much about it. To be sure, it’s very elusive nature makes it practically paradoxical to pursue directly even with the most fervent and focused will, for one can never pledge, “I’m going to be humble, no matter what it takes!”
On the other hand, scripture maintains that it is possible to condition ourselves for this virtue, provided that we have not only the single-minded driven dream of an Olympic athlete racing with all his might toward the finish line, but also the pure absence of self-consciousness, like a child who races to the embracing arms of his loving Father for the fulfillment of the greatest longing of his heart.
posted by FrPitstick | 11/03/2006
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