Humility. It Is No Joke.

Humbly Seeking Humility.

Selfishness. Its a killer. If you didn't pick up on the theme in the First Reading, welp, it's reiterated in the Gospel too, don't worry. Did you get the memo? Humility > Selfishness. Pride just wells up so nicely in this extroverted, outgoing, loud, opinionated, bull-headed personality that encompasses in my little person, oh joy.

God is drastically calling us to a life of selflessness, sacrificial love, and having an attitude of not expecting anything in return. Ouch. That hurts, but it's radical, it's counter-cultural . . . shoot, it's counter-human. We do not naturally strive to do anything without an inkling of expectation of something to get in return. It's not bad—it's normal. What is radical is consciously making an effort to fight that feeling. Striving to always have an attitude of self-donation towards others.

One of my favorite lyrics from a christian song is:

"Holy fire, burn away, my desire for anything that is not of you, but is of me. I want more of you and less of me."

Burn, baby, burn.

Burn that rotten junk that collects in my heart of thoughts, words, deeds, and actions that are all about me! Humility has a quicker absorption rate if the focus is about Jesus—not to focus again on lessening one self—but an increasing of Jesus. If Jesus is bigger, naturally I will be smaller. Humility is about making Jesus bigger. If I am focused on Him, then I am not focused on myself. If I am trying to love Him, then I am not looking for ways to feel loved. If I am serving Him, then I am not seeking to be served. If I am grateful for what He has given me, then I am not reaching to be appreciated.

Ladies. We can do this. We can make our lives, vocations, actions, and thoughts focused more on Him. I join with you today to let this prayer rock our hearts and make Christ the BMOH (Big Man of Our Heart).

Litany of Humility:

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being loved...
From the desire of being extolled ...
From the desire of being honored ...
From the desire of being praised ...
From the desire of being preferred to others ...
From the desire of being consulted ...
From the desire of being approved ...
From the fear of being humiliated ...
From the fear of being despised...
From the fear of suffering rebukes ...
From the fear of being calumniated ...
From the fear of being forgotten ...
From the fear of being ridiculed ...
From the fear of being wronged ...
From the fear of being suspected ...

That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be esteemed more than I ...
That, in the opinion of the world,
others may increase and I may decrease ...
That others may be chosen and I set aside ...
That others may be praised and I unnoticed ...
That others may be preferred to me in everything ...
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should …

AMEN!