Fourth Monday of Advent

Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand. Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way.

Humility is a virtue we have to constantly work at. Pride has a way of slipping into our lives in various ways. It tries to convince us we are better than others. It proclaims we are holier, morally superior, and better than those around us. It wants us to believe we know best and our way is the only one. It tells us our time, talents, and treasures are more important than anyone else’s. It tempts us to be impatient with those who ask us for something. It tempts us to grumble and complain about others. It tempts us to make ourselves into God by encouraging us to be judges. Humility is the only cure for such temptations to pride and it must be swallowed every day. If we want to be truly upright and not like the Pharisees and Sadducees, then we must be humble and just in all things. Following not our way, but the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Christ, who humbly built other people up in faith, hope, and love.

Are we cultivating a sense of humility or pride? How can we become humbler in thought, word, and work? What can we do to foster humility not only in ourselves, but others, too?

O Lord, teach us to be humble.

Amen.