Growing in Virtue: Humility

“In your relations with one another, clothe yourselves with humility, because God is stern with the arrogant but to the humble he shows kindness.’ Bow humbly under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time he may lift you high. Cast all your cares on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:5-7).
 
The virtue of humility can be the toughest to put into practice. Recently in prayer, I heard God the Father telling me that when he was creating the world – the sun, the moon, the stars, the land, the water, the birds of the air and the beast of the field – he had me in mind and was doing it specifically for me. This is why man is created last as the pinnacle of creation and given dominion over all living things. On hearing this, I was immediately tempted with self-pride. But the prayer went deeper. As a matter of fact, the prayer led to a reflection on salvation history: from the creation of man and his fall to Noah, Abraham, Moses, the prophets, and ultimately to the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
 
Beginning with Adam, I was struck by the reality that I am subject to the sins of Adam and Eve, and that led me to look down at myself and my sinfulness. But we cannot forget about the rest of salvation history. God the Father was working and guiding the Israelites through their failings, never giving up on them. Then, as I thought about the Incarnation, it struck me that the God of gods became a vulnerable little baby to reveal that He is “Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.” The Incarnation is not just a lofty idea, but a profound reality that impacts the future of man. The Incarnation is not the end, but the beginning – the means through which Christ would give his life for ours. However, we can’t stop there…
 
When we read the Gospel accounts of Jesus’s Passion, we can’t help but put our pride to the side and sit humbly before our God, appreciating the marvelous mercy he has shown to us. Just as all creation was intended as a gift to us, so too was every drop of blood from the brow of Christ. The Lenten Season is not a time for us to hang our heads and accuse ourselves of causing Christ’s passion because of our sin, but rather a time to embrace the identity of Beloved in relation to the Father, who is the One who Loves. The Passion of Christ’s body is not meant to create a burden of obligation, but an invitation to love. It is a bouquet of mercy – a bundle of roses from the hands of Christ, but with the thorns withheld.
 
As the Son of Man is lifted up in his nakedness on the Cross, we find the true definition of humility. It is here that we have a choice, just like the two thieves at Christ’s side on Calvary: we can abuse this gift of the cross and demand to be saved, or we can proclaim in full humility, without shame, that we are sinners and ask Jesus to remember us when he returns to His Father.
 
In his work Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis had an interesting definition of humility that’s illustrated by the two thieves. The one who is commonly known as the “good thief” did not think less of himself because of his just condemnation but thought of himself less. That’s how we should be inspired to think about humility too.
 
As Lent approaches, let us pray for the virtue of humility. Don’t shy away from opportunities to be humbled. But instead of seeing yourself as a burden to Christ, thinking less of yourself, see yourself as God the Father sees you and this will bring about true humility. As St. Theresa of Avila says, “Humility is truth. It is becoming aware of and accepting the truth of who we are.”
 
My brothers and sisters in Christ, you are the pearl of great price that the Father sells everything to acquire; you are the lost coin, the prodigal son, and the one Jesus left the ninety-nine to find. Great is His rejoicing when you are reunited with Him. This Lent may be the first time you experience true humility – seeing yourself as God the Father sees you – so do not think less of yourself; rather, think of yourself less and allow the Father to come into your heart to find you and remind you that you are His beloved. 
 
“If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?  And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost” (Matthew 18:12-14).

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Chad Cheramie Jr. is a seminarian for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. He attends Notre Dame Seminary where he is in his 5^th year of studies for the priesthood.