Finding Humility

Humble is a word used a lot recently when people talk about Pope Francis. People would mention something that he has done and would use it as a proof that the new pope is a very humble man. But this idea of humility varies significantly from the commonly held assumptions about being humble. Normally speaking, being humble is not different from having very little opinion about oneself. So somebody who would agree with almost anything without ever wanting to make their voice heard, or somebody who choose to play the role of the inferior in order to please others would be considered as humble. Anybody who stands their ground or insists on their opinions be heard is considered not so humble, even arrogant. 

What strike me about Pope Francis is how genuine he is. And in reality, the definition of humility has a lot to do with authenticity. True humility is about being true to yourself and being truthful in your actions. It frees us from pre-occupation with ourselves and enables us to make a realistic assessment of one's self. A humble person do not regard himself smaller or larger than they truly are. They refuse to wear a mask in order to look good to others, thus allowing themselves to be genuine.

Jesus said, "...without me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). Mary upon learning from angel Gabriel that God has chosen her to be the mother of the Savior said, "Behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed" (Luke 1:48). Under general standards, these are rather brash statements coming from two people whom many consider meek and humble of heart. But when Jesus said that humans are incapable of doings things the right way without guidance from God, it was the absolute truth. Same way when the Blessed Virgin proclaimed that she would be called the blessed by all ages, she was speaking from the realization that she was being called by God to be part of a onetime event in the history of human kind. They are humble because they spoke the truth even when the truth they spoke about might appear offensive to some. Blessed Mother Teresa confirmed this idea of humility as genuineness when she said, "If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are". Jesus knew who He was, so did His mother.

People with low self-opinion tends to focus their attention on themselves all the time. Rather than truthfully assessing themselves and their abilities, they tend to compare themselves with others. The danger with such comparisons is that it would lead a person to judge their current situation to be good or bad. When one consider their situation to be better than others, it gives way for unnecessary pride in their abilities. On the other hand, if one assess that their situation to be worse than others, then they would give in to despair. In pride, somebody would begin to act with a sense of superiority by masking their true identity with that of a person who is much better, stronger and powerful. Also a person in despair might take up the false identity of a humble being by allowing others to treat them as inferior. 

To be in the world but not of the world is the reality for a truly humble person. Thus they are not swayed by fame, reputation, success, or even failure. They know that they are only capable of doing things, and incapable of determining success and failures. They are fully aware of the truth that power, position and abilities are all given from heaven. Having freed themselves from worrying about their appearance and approval among others, the humble can dedicate themselves to love and serve others selflessly.

Humility also enables a person to see oneself the way God does. God doesn't fall for our pretentious and dishonest actions like those around us do. God looks at our heart and examines the state of the soul. Our conscience bear witness to the true state of the spirit that was deposited in us by Him. When we humble ourselves by learning who we are in reality, we open our hearts to God. God can then use this humility to direct our energy and ambition to make us what we ought to be according to His plan. 

"The fear of the LORD is training for wisdom, and humility goes before honors." (Proverbs 15:33)