The Grace of Humility

By Tim Trainor

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/103021.cfm
Romans 11:1-2, 11-12, 25-29
Luke 14:1, 7-11

To me, the “Taking the Lowest Seat at Feast” parable in our Gospel Reading is all about painting a word picture to define humility so we can better practice it. We begin with our Gospel, Luke 14:7-11, it contains a Parable known as, “Taking the Lowest Seat at Feast.” In contrast to most other parables, this is a wisdom saying rather than an analogy, allegory, or fable type of Parable. What’s the difference?

In most of Jesus’ parables, he puts the burden on the listener to interpret it and figure out what it means in his life. However, in this parable, Jesus tells the listener how to behave. For Jesus to speak so plainly means he did not want anyone to miss the meaning of it, i.e., that humility really matters!

To me, the key take away phrase in this Parable is: "For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

Thus, in God's Kingdom, the way up is down. Anyone who lifts himself up will be brought down, and anyone who is brought down will be lifted up. When we try to make other people think that we are important or better than them, then we will be humbled against our will. But if we humble ourselves, then God will honor our actions, that is to say 'exalt,' as we hear in this Parable.

When Jesus recommends genuine humility - and his parable is certainly not about banquet etiquette! - what is he calling us to? What is so great about this humility? The Glossary of the Catechism defines humility as: The virtue by which a Christian acknowledges that God is the author of all good. Humility avoids inordinate ambition or pride, and provides the foundation for turning to God in prayer (2559). Voluntary humility can be described as "poverty of spirit" (2546).

So - What is so great about this humility thing – Well this definition tells us 2 very important things: It is the virtue that counters pride; and, it puts us in the right relationship to call out to God (as our Father) in prayer in those times when we are hurting or poor! The reason pride is such a deadly sin is that it gets in the way of our relationship with God. When we are focused on ourselves and our own achievements we see little need to talk to Him and cannot see that God is working in our lives and in those of our fellow men.

The virtue which directly counters pride, and, thus the remedy for this sin - is humility. Still not convinced that humility needs to be important to a Christian?” Well, did you know that the Bible has 106 stories emphasizing humility. Faith is featured in 104 stories, and love is featured only 47 times. Are  these numbers trying to tell us something? 

What are some good examples of humility and how can we humble ourselves (as verse 11 in the Gospel calls for)? Does humility mean putting yourself down? Is humility the same as self-degradation? What is real humility? Catholic Theology views humility as a sub-part of the Cardinal Virtue of Temperance. It is viewed as a part of temperance because temperance includes all those virtues that restrain or help limit the inordinate movements of our desires or appetites.

Here are some quotes which may help us better get our arms around this virtue:

• In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote “True humility isn’t thinking less of yourself; but it is thinking of yourself less.”
  
• St. Bernard defines it as, "A virtue by which a man knowing himself as he truly is, and humbles himself. Jesus Christ is the ultimate definition of Humility."
  
• St. Thomas Aquinas, a 13th-century philosopher and theologian, defines humility as "the virtue that consists in keeping oneself within one's own bounds, not reaching out to things above one, but submitting to one's superior"[To me – implying to God].
  

When St Augustine was asked what are the three most important virtues of the spiritual life he answered humility, humility and humility.

CS Lewis wrote that humility is not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less. This self forgetfulness is clearly seen in the life of Saint Teresa of Liseaux whose little way revolved around the saying “not I but You.” She always strove to be “little” and even liked to compare herself to a grain of sand, her hidden symbol of poverty and littleness so she never attracts attention to herself.

She wrote to her sister Agnes that she hoped to “always remain a little grain of sand, very obscure hidden from all of eyes, that Jesus alone may be able to see it.” A little grain of sand does not desire to be humiliated. That would still be too much glory since it would involve it’s being noticed. It desires but one thing, to be forgotten counted as not - and only desires to be seen by Jesus. In this way she sought “to disappear in order to love.”

Today’s parables about feast etiquette speaks of how we can apply humility in concrete ways, specifically how we can prepare for the banquet in the kingdom of heaven already while we are here on earth.

Practically speaking this means as a guest, not seeking the prominent or first place, That means don’t try to get the best seats of honor to impress others. Seeking social status only feeds our ego and an inflates our sense of self importance. Remember St Augustine said “It was pride that turned angels into devils and it’s humility that makes men as angels.” Jesus said of himself I am gentle and humble of heart. Let us imitate him, who did not grasp equality with God something to be grasped at but emptied himself in the form of a slave.

Rather than trying to draw attention to ourselves let us follow the wisdom of St Francis who said we should be humble like sister water which always seeks the lowest level/place.

Some more quotes:

• "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).
  
• “Humility makes our lives acceptable to God, meekness makes us acceptable to men” (St Francis De Sales).
  
• Again [because it is my favorite] - It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.  
  
• Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance.
  
• Do you wish to be great? Then begin by being. Do you desire to construct a vast and lofty fabric? Think first about the foundations of humility. The higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation.
  
• Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility. [Note the reversing going on here in these quotes – to rise, first go down - plus the echoing of building a strong foundation which we heard in the Catechism's definition of Humility.]
  
• No one reaches the kingdom of Heaven except by humility.  [My 2nd favorite]
  

I would like to close by suggesting you pray the Litany of Humility, which was popularized by Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val (1865-1930)  who served as the secretary of the papal conclave of 1903 that elected Pope Pius X. The Pope is said to have accepted his election through Cardinal's del Val's encouragement. The Cardinal's writings and example prompted great usage of  this Litany during his lifetime.

Did you know we Catholics have 12 official Litany's and one of them is The Litany of Humility?

• To live in humility, you need to desire to live always in the confidence of God’s love, protection, and guidance and therefore to not be concerned when others insult you - or -  praise you.
  
• Secure in God’s love, you won’t have to base your identity on whether or not others notice and accept you, and so you won’t have to compete with them and beat them down to make yourself feel bigger.
  
• Humility does not have anything to do with humiliation or self-defilement; we have an obligation to serve Christ Effectively and Joyfully in pure love.
  
• Therefore it is important that we never relinquish the noble responsibility of developing our God given talents to the fullest. Our self-development is a spiritual necessity, and it won’t become an act of selfishness if we seek it with proper humility.
  

The Litany of Humility

Prayer, and our Response

O  JESUS merciful and humble of heart, Hear me.
FROM the DESIRE of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus.
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,                         "
From the fear of being humiliated,                   "
From the fear of being despised,                            "
From the fear of suffering rebukes,                        "
From the fear of being falsely accused,                 "
From the fear of being forgotten,                           "
From the fear of being ridiculed,                           "
From the fear of being wronged,                           "
From the fear of being suspected,                         "
That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the GRACE to DESIRE it.
That others may be esteemed more than I,                                            "       
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease [like John the Baptist],                             "
That others may be chosen and I set aside,                                           "
That others may be praised and I go 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 be. Jesus, grant me the grace to desire this, plus all of the above

AMEN