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Today's Meditation: Luke 18:9-14

. . . to those who were convinced of their own righteousness. (Luke 18:9)

St. Teresa of Ávila taught that the virtue of humility is best understood as true knowledge: to see yourself as you really are, neither too high nor too low. If you have an inflated opinion of yourself and look down on other people, humility reminds you that we are all sinners in need of God’s mercy. If you have an excessively negative self-image and see yourself as unworthy of love, humility corrects that false impression in light of God’s profound love for you and the fact that you are created in his image and likeness.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus’ parable gets to the heart of the matter. The Pharisee actually leads an exemplary life: it’s good that he is not greedy, dishonest, or adulterous! And yet Jesus tells us that this man did not go home justified. His prayer did not humble him or open him up to God—or to his neighbor, the very tax collector he despised. In fact, it was no more than a recital of his own good actions. It’s almost as though he thought God should be the one thanking him! He was not seeing things as they really were.

By contrast, the tax collector had an honest appraisal of himself, “a sinner,” and his prayer was a real turning toward God: “Be merciful to me” (Luke 18:13).

The season of Lent is a time for deepening humility. It’s a time for us to grow in the kind of humility that sees things as they really are: we are sinners in need of God’s love, but we are also deeply loved and valued by God—to the point that Jesus gave his very life for us.

So how do we grow in humility? It happens every time we experience God’s mercy. Like the tax collector, as we see ourselves as sinners who have received mercy, our humility increases. Mercy fills us with joy, even as it humbles us.

St. Teresa also taught that the way to exercise humility is not to grit your teeth and try really hard, but to forget about yourself and turn your attention to God by loving him in your neighbor. Your acts of charity will flow out as gratitude for God’s free gift of love and mercy.

“O God, have mercy on me a sinner. Help me to love you in my neighbor today.”

Hosea 6:1-6
Psalm 51:3-4, 18-21

One Bread, One Body

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Hosea 6:1-6
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Psalm 51:3-4, 18-21

Luke 18:9-14
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ONLY THE HUMBLE LOVE THEMSELVES

"Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled while he who humbles himself shall be exalted." �Luke 18:14

The Pharisee's prayer was not pleasing to the Lord because he was not humble. One sign of lacking humility is to compare ourselves with others. "The Pharisee with head unbowed prayed in this fashion: 'I give You thanks, O God, that I am not like the rest of men � grasping, crooked, adulterous � or even like this tax collector' " (Lk 18:11).

It is obvious that to put others down to make ourselves look better is a comparison steeped in pride. However, it is also contrary to humility to compare ourselves unfavorably to others. To think that we aren't as good as someone else is not focusing on our God-given uniqueness, is not seeing ourselves the way the Lord wants us to see ourselves, and is not being humble. Humility is not humiliation. "With humility, have self-esteem; prize yourself as you deserve" (Sir 10:27). Humility is to see ourselves as utterly dependent on God and as redeemed, chosen, precious, priestly, and royal (see 1 Pt 2:9). Therefore, neither favorable nor unfavorable comparisons of ourselves with others are in accord with humility.

Throughout the Lenten season and especially in Holy Week, we focus on the Passion and death of Jesus. Our meditation on the crucified Christ must not make us hate ourselves for sharing through our sins in such a despicable crime. Our focus on Christ crucified should fill us with thanksgiving that we are so loved and with awe that we are considered so precious by the Lord.

Humble yourself to love yourself.

Prayer: Father, as I meditate on Your Son's Passion and crucifixion, send the Holy Spirit to teach me the meaning of humility.

Promise: "Let us know, let us strive to know the Lord; as certain as the dawn is His coming, and His judgment shines forth like the light of day!" —Hos 6:3

Praise: Pete donates cash so as to remain anonymous.