reaching the next degree of humility
"Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, but whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. " —Matthew 23:12
Jesus is gentle and humble of heart (Mt 11:29). He humbled Himself even to death on the cross (Phil 2:8). He commands us to learn humility from Him (Mt 11:29). This Lent, He calls us to break new ground in humility — to be more humble than we've ever been before.
Grow in humility by:
- submitting to the authority of even hypocritical leaders (see Mt 23:3),
- admitting that you may be unjustly burdening others (see Mt 23:4),
- doing more of your good deeds anonymously (cf Mt 6:3 and 23:5),
- taking the lowest place more often (cf Lk 14:10 and Mt 23:6), and
- using your speech to lift up others rather than to exalt yourself (see Mt 23:7ff).
After these acts of humility, you can wash the feet of others (Jn 13:4-5), turn the other cheek after being offended (Mt 5:39), forgive and love your enemies (Lk 6:27), deny yourself, and take up the cross daily (Lk 9:23). There are hundreds of ways to grow in humility. This Lent, be more humble than ever and more like Jesus.
Prayer: Father, in the next month do a miracle of humility in me.
Promise: "Come now, let us set things right, says the Lord: though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow." —Is 1:18
Praise: St. Cyril urged: "Remove all obstacles and stumbling blocks so that you will be able to go straight along the road to eternal life."
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, August 1, 2002
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 7, 2002