Humility

Jesus told St. Faustina, “The smallest act of virtue has unlimited value in My eyes because of your great love for Me.” Divine Mercy in my soul # 1489

“When I was left alone with the Blessed Virgin, She instructed me concerning the interior life. She said, “The soul’s true greatness is in loving God and in humbling oneself in His presence, completely forgetting oneself and believing oneself to be nothing, because the Lord is great, but He is well-pleased only with the humble, He always opposes the proud”. Divine Mercy in my soul # 1711

I often wonder if the greatest attribute God desires of man is humility.

“He is well-pleased only with the humble”, “He exalts the humble” (Luke 1:52), ““God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble” (James 4:6), “Humility is the fear of the LORD” (Proverbs 22:4)

The Lord leads us to a humble heart and desires that we humble ourselves to Him. Look at the example of the angels. Lucifer was one of the most exalted of God’s servants but couldn’t accept God’s plan for humanity and wanted to be God in his pride. Michael humbled himself to God’s plan and majesty. Lucifer was cast out in his pride while in humility, Michael is one “who is like like God”. But, even the meaning of his name, “who is like God?” is a humble question not a statement.

When we humble ourselves to the Lord God, He truly does exalt us to the highest station, that of being called His sons and daughters. (John 1:12).

We have great examples of truest humility in the Christmas season. We look to Mary, purest of humility who was exalted as “full of grace” and “highly favored”, and Joseph, humility was more who he is than what he does. Joseph, exalted to the station of father to God made flesh, never said a word in all scripture. Joseph just did what was asked of him. I see Joseph hearing God’s requests, bowing his head in affirmation and the leveling his shoulders and moving forward in the task.

St. Joseph really stands out for is his humility. Chosen to form a family with the Incarnate Word and His most pure Mother, in an act of humility he accepts having spiritually the lowest rank while being head of the family. Based on the Gospels we can imagine many situations in which Saint Joseph has very likely exercised his humility.

Joseph would have held one of the highest positions in the life of Jesus. As his father, Joseph would have the responsibility of teaching the boy Jesus what it means to be a man, how to act, how to pray, how to worship the Father. Strange to think, but remember, “though He was in the form of God…emptied Himself…being born in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:6,7)

Then, of course, we have Jesus Himself. This is God Himself, humbling Himself from the Throne of Glory to a dirty manger and bloody cross. “Therefore God also highly exalted him” Philippians 2:9

This year, make humility your primary stance toward God and the world and “walk humbly with your God” Micah 6:8

“True greatness of the soul is in loving God and in humility.” Divine Mercy in my soul # 427