Today's obvious theme is the need for humility. At its root, humility is a recognition that there is something greater than us. That something in the Christian life is God. Wonder and awe will lead us to humility, because we are in such awe of God's gracious love, His sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins and His mercy which endures despite our failings.
Humility comes from the heart. Giving gifts or even showing kindness can come from the heart, but often it comes from the head. It is calculated, like "if I do this for someone, they'll do this for me later." Jesus wants us to have true, humble hearts.
Humility is the solution, or the virtue, which counters the sin of pride. Pride is boastful. It tries to take credit for the things that we do, without giving credit to the God who loves us and gives us everything we have. Pride is the main humility blocker.
I've heard it said several times before that "There are two types of people in this world, those who are humble and those who soon will be…" So it is clear that we need to grow in humility, and I'd rather do that on my own than have the world do that for me. Two ways to do that.
First, is to spend a little time every day thanking God for everything you have been given. Gratitude is the best way to overcome pride, because it recognizes we didn't do everything ourselves. So thank God for all you have. I feel like that is almost too obvious, and I have mentioned that practice before, so I'd like to offer another way, the second way, which is to pray the Litany of Humility.
This litany was written by Cardinal Merry del Val who was the Secretary of State to Pope Saint Pius X from 1903-1914. They say that when you pray for humility, God doesn’t necessarily give you the virtue, but opportunities to practice it. When we ask for humility, we should expect to be humbled. This prayer is the way that we prepare ourselves to experience humility with grace. It of course can be prayed alone, but when done in a group, a Litany goes back and forth, a call and a response. There are only three different responses so I will just tell you what they are before we get there. Here we go…
The Litany of Humility
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being praised, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being despised, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected, Deliver me, O Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I go unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
Amen.