Humility

The more humble we are the more God will lift us up.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The poor in spirit are those who recognize their limitations, weaknesses and poverty. They realize that they have nothing on their own - their hands are empty. And so they look to God and completely depend on him for all of their needs. Jesus tells us that these humble souls will be abundantly blessed by God. 

It is in the humble that God's power and goodness are clearly manifested: “For my power is made perfect in weakness.” The more humble we are, the more God will work in us. Because otherwise, he will only increase our pride, which he does not want.  St. Paul has the right attitude as he explains the correlation between humility and grace:  “I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”  The more we acknowledge our nothingness and complete dependence on God, the more he will live and work in us.

Mary is the model of humility, and tells us how God treats the humble and the proud:

“For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant . . . He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He had filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away empty.” (Lk 1:46-56)

Mary always refers to herself as the lowly servant or the handmaid of the Lord.  She acknowledges her nothingness and gives credit to God for all the favors he has done for her.  

Mary also tells us that God will help and lift up those who are humble; but the proud he will humble.  

Humility is essential if we are to grow in grace. In fact, it is the first step if we are to grow in virtue. What is the very first step of building a structure on a piece of land? It is clearing the grounds: getting rid of all the weeds, rocks, and trash that have accumulated.  Humility is like clearly the grounds - one cannot start building a life of grace if pride, ego and arrogance are not removed.  Otherwise, the structure will not be stable but will crumble.  

Jesus confirms his preference for those who are meek and humble of heart. He tells St. Faustina:

"Today bring to me the meek and humble souls and the souls of the little children and immerse them in my mercy. These souls most closely resemble my heart . . . I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace.  I favor humble souls with my confidence."

We have to make a conscious effort to watch our pride and to be humble. One way in which I remind myself to be humble is that I keep on my desk a picture of myself when I was nine months.  This is to remind me that in a way, I am still a little boy, who could barely stand or walk, and not capable of doing much on my own. Therefore, I am completely dependent on God for accomplishing any good. This picture helps me to be humble.

We should imitate Mary and the saints and acknowledge our nothingness, and God will pour his graces upon us.  Imagine a seesaw: if we raise ourselves up then we will lower God and he will have little or no effect in our lives.  But if we lower ourselves, then we raise God up and he will be more present and active in our lives.

So knowing our limitations, we don't rely on ourselves. Who then do we rely upon?