HUMILITY AND MEEKNESS


TUESDAY, FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME  

2 Sam 18:9-10,14,24-25,30-19:3; Ps 86:1-6; Mk 5:21-43

The Nature of Humility and Meekness

The world usually considers the virtues of humility and meekness as weakness. But nothing is farther from the truth; the world is deceived in this consideration of humility and meekness as weakness. The ignorance of the worldly-minded on the strength of these virtues lies in the fact that the world follows its evil prince to set its store on self and self-acquisition. Thus, looking through the dark and sinful lens of self, the proud worldlings are not able to see the divine company that humility attracts and keeps. As we have noted, humility or poverty of spirit is a virtue that results from the self-emptying act of a soul, which makes it able to attract and contain God, the Almighty. When God sheds his light and grace on our souls, it helps us see how sick and miserable we are without his help. The enlightenment of grace from the word of God enables us to know ourselves in truth and makes us lower our raised shoulders in shame and humility. We acknowledge our sins and weaknesses, consider the justice of God in all his dealings with us, and plead with faith for his mercy, while trusting firmly in his loving kindness. This is the anatomy or structure of a true act of humility. As in everything good we are able to do, God is the beginning or source of our acts of humility and meekness, which also unite us with him in greater holiness.

The perfections which these two virtues aim at are what our Lord expressed in the beatitudes. The virtue of humility or poverty of spirit receives God as an inheritance. Therefore, the scripture says that God dwells with the humble in the land. The virtue of meekness, on the other hand, receives the earth as an inheritance. How is this accomplished? The life of David illustrates the power of meekness for us. When God revealed David’s sins to him, he immediately acknowledged, owned, and confessed them to God. He implored the mercy of God and wholeheartedly accepted God’s just judgment. This act of humility pleased God to remain with him and strengthened him during the prolonged punishments he endured for his sins. His act of meekness is seen in the ready excuses for the wrongs or sins of others, while apportioning the whole blame on himself as a consequence of his sins. He meekly suffered everything as coming from God’s loving kindness and his divine justice, which sanctioned all for the just punishment of his sins. David’s action at the death of Absalom, who caused him so much trouble and pain, demonstrates this. “The king shuddered. He went up to the room over the gate and burst into tears, and weeping said, ‘My son Absalom! My son! My son Absalom! Would I had died in your place! Absalom, my son, my son!’” With this ready excuse for others’ failures and sins, and acceptance of the human condition as just treatment by God for our sins, a meek soul feels at home everywhere on earth and easily accommodates all.

These virtues in David find their perfections in the Son of Man. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the humblest as the Firstborn of all creation. Thus, the fullness of divinity is found in him. He inherits God for us who are his members. He carried all our sins on himself and confessed them to the Father. The words of the psalm perfectly apply to him. “Turn your ear, O Lord, and give answer for I am poor and needy. Preserve my life, for I am faithful; save the servant who trusts in you.” As the Lamb of God, the meekest of all the children of men, he excuses the faults of his brothers and sisters and carries their faults and blames on himself. “O Lord, you are good and forgiving, full of love to all who call. Give heed, O Lord, to my prayer and attend to the sound of my voice.” As the One who inherits God and the earth, he is able to give us life and heal our sicknesses. He healed the woman with the issue of blood. “My daughter, your faith has restored you to health; go in peace and be free from your complaint.” He raised Jairus’ daughter to life. “And taking the child by the hand he said to her, ‘Talitha, kum!’ which means, ‘Little girl, I tell you to get up.’ The little girl got up at once and began to walk about, for she was twelve years old.” We pray for the grace to imitate the humility and meekness of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Let us pray: Grant us, Lord our God, that we may honour you with our minds in deep humility, and love everyone in meekness of heart as our Saviour did. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. 

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