22nd Sunday Year C 2025

"Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less." — C.S. Lewis

In the sacred tapestry of human virtues, humility is the most paradoxical. Although it appears fragile, it possesses extraordinary strength. Sirach states that "the greater you are, the more you must humble yourself; thus you will find favour in the sight of the Lord." This ancient counsel asserts that humility is not a weakness to be overcome but a divine gift to be embraced.

Humility is a gift God bestows upon each person without exception. Like air, it is universally available yet uniquely expressed in each individual. The wealthy executive and struggling labourer, celebrated scholar and unlettered child—all possess this sacred capacity for self-awareness and genuine recognition of their place within God's sovereign plan.

Observing dinner guests scrambling for places of honour, Jesus says that humility is not about social status but an internal disposition available to everyone and that each person has within them both pride and the capacity for humility.

Sirach teaches that "to the humble God reveals his secrets," suggesting humility unlocks dimensions of human experience otherwise closed to us. It nurtures wonder, growth, and genuine relationship. Pride can distort our vision whereas humility helps us see ourselves honestly, neither inflated by false grandeur nor diminished by destructive shame. Lao Tzu observed, "The sage does not attempt anything very big, and thus achieves greatness."

Hebrews presents us with powerful Mount Sinai, shrouded in darkness, and Mount Zion, the joyful city of the living God. Humility guides us to the joyful mountain of community, grace, and genuine divine relationship. Where pride builds walls, humility builds bridges. Where pride demands recognition, humility finds fulfilment in service. Mother Teresa believed: "Humility is the mother of all virtues. It is in being humble that our love becomes real, devoted and ardent."

The humble person can apologize without losing dignity, learn from criticism without being crushed, celebrate others' successes without feeling diminished. In our ego-driven world, such qualities possess the power to renew and invigorate.

Benjamin Franklin said, "Pride that dines on vanity, sups on contempt." Humility, however, feasts on truth, connection, and living with deep satisfaction.

Humility guides by stripping away our false selves to reveal the self that God sees and loves, the self we are. In embracing humility, we encounter the divine paradox: we find ourselves by losing ourselves, become great by becoming small, and are exalted by choosing the lowly place. As Confucius said, "Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues."

Humility unleashes lives of extraordinary purpose and world-changing impact. 

A new nurse on the psychiatric ward goes into a patient's room to talk the patient and check up on her. The nurse asks the patient "How are you doing today?"

The patient says "That's no way to address me!"

"What do you mean?" replies the nurse

"You should address someone of my stature with respect and humility!" said the patient indignantly "Oh, I should? And why is that?" asked the nurse

"Because, I am the Queen!" the patient exclaimed

"Really now? And who told you that?" The nurse asked skeptically.

"God did!" replied the patient. . . . . . . . "Did not!" shouted the patient from down the hall!

by Fr. Thomas O'Brien