August 9
Jesus, Model Of Humility
Preparation. - That we may be encouraged to practice humility, we shall see, first, how easy our Saviour made it by His example, and secondly, how many lights He gives us to enable us to acquire it. Let us accustom ourselves to begin every mediation by acts of profound self-abasement, in union with Jesus, who, for our salvation, “emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave” (Phil. 2. 7).
I. Jesus Rendered Humility Easy To Us
Whilst the angel and man, in their rebellion, exclaim in their pride, “I shall be like unto the Most High,” the eternal Word, on the contrary said: “I will descend from the highest heaven even unto nothingness, and become like unto the least of mortals, like the vilest slave.” And, in fat, what slave was ever born in a stable, and was ever loaded with insults and disgrace, like Jesus Christ? Hence the prophet makes Him say: “I am a worm and not a man” (Is. 14. 4).
Pride, says St. Augustine, was the disease that consumed mankind, a disease so much the more incurable, because it affected man spiritually and appeared not repulsive to those infected with it. Its most effective remedy is humiliation, a remedy most repugnant to our fallen nature. What course did our heavenly Physician follow? To encourage us to accept it, He first took the remedy Himself, but in so a great a dose, as to deprive us of any pretext for refusing to take ourselves the diminutive dose He offers us.
Moreover, if we esteem and love our Redeemer, we shall feel honored in resembling Him, in wearing the livery of His humiliations. For, how can we adore Christ’s grandeurs and refuse, at the same time, to venerate, love and embrace His abasement? Is it not a glory for a man to humble himself with his God? Why then should we esteem it a disgrace?
O Jesus, I acknowledge that, when humbled, I am disturbed, irritated, sad and cast down. The mere dread of being put to shame, causes me to lose all peace of mind. I am hardly able to bear being forgotten, put aside, made little of, and seeing others esteemed. Ever eager for praise, I have a horror of corrections and kind admonitions, and I shudder at the very shadow of contempt. How far, then, am I from following the steps of a God, who sought abjection during His whole life and even whilst dying on the cross. O Jesus, I am resolved calmly to accept this day whatever may wound my vanity, my sensitiveness and self-love. Enable me to profit by these precious occasions to conquer my pride and presumption.
II. The Lights Jesus Gives Us To Acquire Humility
When we consider the doctrine and example of the Incarnate Wisdom, nothing will appear to us more debasing than pride. “This vice,” says St. Augustine, “is the origin, end and cause of all sins.” It is a disgusting ulcer that infects our mind, spoils our heart and our most brilliant qualities. It begets, develops, and maintains all our defects in their revolt against God, and makes us like unto Satan himself. Who would not be horrified at such a monster? The hatred or aversion of this vise is the beginning of the virtue of humility.
That we may make progress therein, let us often by the light of Christ's teaching, consider the malice of our sins, the deformity of our faults, our propensity to evil, our powerlessness to do good, and even to wish, desire and think of it. Is not this enough to inspire us with the greatest mistrust of ourselves? How can we attribute to ourselves the execution of a good work , if we cannot even conceive the idea of it without the divine assistance!
Do we not, moreover, see how much help we need to keep in the sate of grace? And how much more helps are required to enable us to attain perfection! It is God who preserves us in faith, in hope, in the supernatural life; He inspires us with holy thoughts, pious emotions, and with desires of solitude, silence and mental prayer. He gives us His angels as protectors, His Mother is our nurse, and Jesus is our support, our unspeakable food. Do we need more and greater benefits? And, nevertheless, where is our progress, where are our virtues? How many faults do we not commit? How many imperfections mar our conduct! This very consideration filled the saints with confusion. They considered themselves as great criminals, because they had failed to correspond perfectly to the divine calls.
O Jesus, I abase myself most profoundly in Thy adorable presence, acknowledging my ingratitude and want of fidelity. Do not suffer me always to rob Thee of the glory due Thee, and to be a slave of vanity, presumption, self-love and selfishness. Stifle in me all self-esteem, self-complacency and eagerness for praise. Through the intercession of the most humble of creatures, Thy holy Mother, make my heart like unto Thine, by granting me a deep, sincere and constant humility.
