Introduction
I don’t think I have ever given a free homily. Obviously, I don’t get paid for each homily I preach, but I always ask you to do something in your lives based on the Word of God at Mass. Today is certainly no exception. A little later in my homily, I will ask for a lot, but it will bring you great benefit.
Our gospel message today presents a message on humility in the context of prayer. On Catholic Radio I heard a person talking who was very proud of his humility. He claimed to have won the “most humble” award three years running.
All of our readings touch on prayer. The Lord hears the lowly and answers with justice. Paul speaks of a relationship with the Lord can only come through prayer. Our gospel parable focuses on two people in prayer. Prayer seems to be second nature in each of the readings.
I suppose I could combine the prayer and humility, but that comes dangerously close to that Mac Davis song, “Lord, it’s hard to be humble…”
Enough of that. Let’s begin with a few words on prayer. Then we can focus on humility. I’ll end with big ask for all of you.
Humility in Prayer
I once heard a story from a military chaplain who was assigned to an airborne division – parachute jumpers. A young private told him that he was afraid to jump but didn’t really know how to pray. The chaplain told him to simply say to God whatever he was thinking. As the private stepped out of a perfectly good airplane the chaplain heard him say, “Bless us, Oh Lord, and these thy gifts…” I guess that was the only prayer he knew.
Our private really had very little practice in spontaneous prayer. He was searching for the right formula when what was really needed was not the right words, but a heartfelt sentiment. “Lord, help me!” would have been more than enough. Many of us are familiar with the prayers we say together such as the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. These prayers are really fine prayers – the Our Father was composed by Christ himself, after all. There is, however, a need for a style of prayer that is a two-way communication. One in in which we remind ourselves that we are in the Lord’s presence. We share ourselves openly and listen to him stirring our hearts.
This kind of vulnerability, even with God, takes a little courage, doesn’t it? It starts in silence. It also takes humility.
Humility – Seeing Myself as God Sees Me
This brings us to our next topic – humility. “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.[1]” What exactly do we mean when talk about humility? Why is humility so important?
Simply put, humility is us seeing ourselves as God sees us. No more no less. It is not the “I’m not worthy.” For instance, I could have said, “There is nothing that I can tell you that you don’t already know”, and slept in this morning. But we both know that it is not true. I could stand here preaching until the next Mass starts walking in just certain that my words will be enough to get all of you into heaven. Also, not true.
What enables us to see ourselves as God sees us? Prayer is critical. The best way to understand how God sees us (which by the way is the most realistic and loving way possible), is to ask him, to pray to him, to take the time to listen to him.
I have heard humility described as knowing that there is a God, and we are not him. Humility is, in its own way, discovering the truth about ourselves, the good and the bad.
Humility – the Antidote to Pride and Everything [2]
So let’s say that we have an accurate picture of ourselves in mind. Let’s say that we know with perfect clarity that we are beloved sons and daughters of almighty God. We know when and how and how badly we fall short of the love that God has shown us. We have achieved perfect humility. What makes this so important?
Humankind’s first sin was driven by pride. Humility is the antidote to the poison of pride.
There is a pride that refuses to acknowledge God and his goodness. Humility is the antidote. There is a pride that lets us love God but then blocks us from submitting ourselves to God’s will. Humility is the cure for that at well.
Humility lets us acknowledge our status as creatures while at the same time glorying in the goodness and power of God. He loves us, as we are! He became one of us, after all. When we get out of the way, when we become truly humble, all competition with God ceases. We begin to see God as the divine spark and source of everything we are and can do, and we stop seeing God as the one who keeps us from our desires. I know a man who developed humility from his encounter with lung cancer. His complete lack of control over his illness moved him from saying “I’ve got this,” to saying “I rely on God”. We don’t need a terminal diagnosis to develop humility. Earnest, open, prayer will do.
Answering the Call to Humility in Prayer
We have talked about prayer and its importance in connecting us with God and with ourselves. We have talked about the highest of human virtues, humility. Now I have something to ask you.
Dedicate a significant amount of time to prayer. Take a weekend away from your day to day life to contemplate who you are to God and who God is to you. Contemplate God’s love. Contemplate your own sinfulness. Allow the Holy Spirit to show you who you really are.
Better still, consider an Ignatian retreat. This retreat is not for the faint of heart. A weekend Ignatian retreat packs in weeks’ worth of spiritual exercises into one weekend. Along the way we you will decide whose flag we you are fighting for – the worlds, or Christ’s – and you will commit ourselves to that fight. Most importantly, you can make space in your soul to allow the Holy Spirit to do his good work![3] It means giving up a full weekend. Weekend reatreats aren’t always cheap, but they can definitely be worth it.[4]
Closing
I told you I was going to ask for something, didn’t I? If we only ever listen and never take any concrete steps everything remains pretty bland and awfully unchanging.
Humility is vital! Prayer is essential! Prayer and humility are how we understand God’s tremendous love for us. Prayer and humility are how we understand ourselves as we really are – as God sees us. Make the decision today. Come on retreat, if not, commit to pray. Open yourselves what the Holy Spirit has to offer you. Follow where Christ leads!
[1] Luke 18:14.
[2] This section is strongly influenced by Dietreich von Hilderand in his work on Christian spirituality Transformation in Christ: On the Christian Attitude (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2001), cf pp. 149-188.
[3] Letter to Retreatants from the Priests of Miles Christi, undated bit received 20 October 2022.
[4] Two recommendations: Montserrat Retreat House in Dallas (Individual Retreats — Montserrat Jesuit Retreat House (montserratretreat.org)) or any of the Miles Christi retreats around the U.S.A. Spiritual Exercises | Miles Christi