BE LIKE WATER

“The quickest way to humility is through humiliation.” “Asking for humility is a prayer that God will always say ‘yes’ to.” “Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself but thinking of your- self less.” These are phrases I heard all the time while growing up in youth group, and they of- ten led to me rolling my eyes. Or, when one of us somewhat disruptive kids were feeling very sure of ourselves, we would proclaim “I’m the holiest person here!” we would then quickly follow that proclamation with, “Hey, humility is accepting the truth.” Now, there’s nothing inherently incorrect with any of these phrases or assertions, but we can sometimes fall into the trap of trivializing the virtue of humility, which is essential and foundational to the spiritual life. If sin flows from pride, it makes sense that virtue flows from the opposite of pride, humility. St. Augustine gives us the following image, “Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. Do you plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.” This can sound contradictory. If I’m hiking up a mountain, I wouldn’t begin by climbing down into a cave, right? I would begin on the path going upwards. However, with most aspects in the spiritual life, things often work in the opposite way that we expect. St. Vincent de Paul gives us great advice about why we should practice and cultivate the virtue of humility. He says, “The most powerful weapon to conquer the enemy is humility. For, as he does not know at all how to employ it, neither does he know how to defend himself from it.” The enemy, consumed by his own self-importance and pride, will certainly not know what humility is and will not be able to defend against it. Let us all begin to practice the virtue of humility!

The LORD’S words in the Gospel today offer a supreme example of what it means to humble ourselves. “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” We should al- ways be seeking the lowest place at table, instead of the highest place. It is not being exalted that is the issue here, but the pitfall comes when we exalt ourselves, instead of letting Christ exalt us as He sees fit. I’m reminded of something that Fr. John Paul Oullette, CFR once told me, while I was a member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. He told us that we should aim to be like water; for it seeks the lowest place. Franciscans are certainly stereotyped as being animal and earth-loving hippies (sometimes rightfully so), and so this analogy shouldn’t surprise us too much. However, the lesson is quite profound. Does water flow uphill? Does water reach up in the air? Even when water evaporates and ascends as vapor, it still de- sires to fall again as rain. Flowing water will always seek the lowest place. It pools together in lakes, and rivers flow downhill. As St. Francis of Assisi says in his Canticle of Creatures, “May Thou be praised, my Lord, for sister water, who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.” Just as water is purifying, cleansing, and one of the most fundamental necessities of life, so humility purifies us, cleanses us from pride, and is foundational in our spiritual life. Humble yourselves, that you may be exalted. And be like water, seek the lowest place.

~Grant O’Neil, Director of Lifelong Discipleship and Outreach