“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Gospel for Oct. 27, Lk 18:14)
We live in the age of the selfie, in what the writer David Brooks has called the culture of “the Big Me.” Such a culture constantly urges us to “exalt” ourselves, but as Christians we need to be radically different by striving for humility. This means coming to terms with our pride, our desire for “likes,” approval and recognition. As Mother Teresa put it, “It is in being humble that our love becomes real, devoted and ardent.” Surrounded by the message to exalt ourselves, may we instead seek to humble ourselves and demonstrate real love to others.
This month, I challenge you to kneel before a crucifix each morning and ask Christ to give you the gift of humility. I also challenge you, in this month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, to pray the rosary (either as a council through the Faith in Action Rosary program or as an individual) for an increase in humility.
What are some ways you can grow in humility? How can you strengthen your resistance to the lure of others’ praise and the sting of their criticism? Did the act of humbling yourself before Christ on the cross teach you anything about how to be humble?