"Conduct your affairs with humility" (Sir 3:17). "Humble yourself the more, the greater you are" (Sir 3:18). We who are disciples of Jesus and have been baptized into Jesus are called to be the most humble of all people, for Jesus "emptied Himself" and became a human being (Phil 2:7). Then He "humbled Himself, obediently accepting even death, death on a cross!" (Phil 2:8) Therefore, "in your relations with one another, clothe yourselves with humility, because God 'is stern with the arrogant but to the humble He shows kindness' " (1 Pt 5:5).

Jesus invites us: "Learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart" (Mt 11:29). Jesus has taught us that we humble ourselves when we take the lowest place (Lk 14:10). Jesus did this by being born in Bethlehem; growing up in Nazareth; becoming a carpenter; choosing to be poor (see 2 Cor 8:9), persecuted, even a slave (Phil 2:7); choosing apostles and disciples who were "lowborn and despised" by the world (1 Cor 1:28); washing the feet of His apostles (Jn 13:5); freely letting Himself suffer crucifixion, the most disgraceful way to die; and remaining with us under the appearance of bread and wine.

Jesus humbled Himself to the extreme. He was then highly exalted and given "the name above every other name" (Phil 2:9). In the name of Jesus, humble yourself to the extreme.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, February 13, 2001

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 20, 2001