Humility: The Path to True Elevation

(This reflection is inspired by Fr. Cesar's homily, which beautifully reminds us that the pursuit of elevation—of being lifted up—comes in two ways: one orderly, and one disorderly.)

The Call of Today’s Readings

The Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time invites us to reflect on the paradox at the heart of the Gospel: the way up is the way down. Sirach counsels us: “Conduct your affairs with humility… Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God” (Sir 3:17-18). Jesus affirms this in the Gospel: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted… For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (Lk 14:11, 14).

Two Ways of Seeking Elevation

There are only two ways to seek greatness:

  • Orderly elevation comes through humility, aligning us with God’s truth.

  • Disorderly elevation comes through pride, which sets us against God.

Sacred Scripture warns us: “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble” (Jas 4:6). Pride leads to disorder, while humility leads to grace.

Acting for an End

Every human action is directed toward a specific goal or end. Our choices are never neutral—they are guided by a purpose. The real question is:

  • Do I act out of love for God, moved by grace?

  • Or do I act out of vainglory, seeking recognition, honor, or self-promotion?

The value of an action does not lie in appearances but in intention. Done out of love for God, even the smallest action has eternal value; done out of pride, even the grandest gesture crumbles before Him.

The Root of Disorder: Pride

Fr. Cesar emphasized that pride is the root of all disorders. Pride blinds us into thinking we are our own source of worth. It makes us believe that our gifts, successes, and even our existence are our own achievements.

But the truth is clear: all good things come from God, while all deficiencies come from us. When we seek elevation apart from God, we are actually lowering ourselves into emptiness.

Humility: The Foundation of Spiritual Life

By contrast, humility grounds us in truth. St. Teresa of Ávila teaches: “Humility is truth.” Humility is knowing who we are before God—creatures wholly dependent on Him and yet deeply loved.

Humility is not weakness but strength. It is the emptying of ourselves so that God may fill us with His grace. It is allowing God to work in us, rather than relying on our own merits.

Even God’s mercy, abundant as it is, does not stand apart from His justice. Mercy heals and restores us precisely because it is rooted in truth.

The Promise of Elevation

The Gospel today ends with Jesus’ great assurance: “For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Humility is not about staying lowly forever. It is about being lifted by God Himself—humbly elevated in an orderly manner. This is our ultimate purpose, the perfect end for which we are made: eternal life in communion with God.

Living It Out

To walk this path, let us:

  • Seek elevation only through humility.

  • Act with intention rooted in love for God, not vainglory.

  • Remember that all good is a gift, and every deficiency is ours.

  • Empty ourselves daily in prayer and service, so that Christ may fill us.

Reflection Questions

  1. Do I act out of love for God, or do I seek recognition for myself?

  2. Where do pride and self-reliance still hold sway in my life?

  3. How can I empty myself today so that God may work more fully in me?

Closing Word

The way to true greatness is not by climbing higher on our own, but by lowering ourselves in trust before God. If we walk humbly, He Himself will raise us—not with the fleeting honors of this world, but with the eternal glory of heaven.

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Lk 14:11).

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Honoring Fr. Zinjin: A Day Offered in Love, A Priesthood to Celebrate

Image
A Day Offered in Love – The Friday Before the Recollection The day before our Women’s Day of Recollection, Fr. Zinjin dedicated his entire Friday to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, consciously offering every encounter, every task, and every unexpected moment for the women who would attend the retreat. He prayed:  “Everything today is for this Women’s Day of Recollection, Lord. Everything that I encounter is a prayer for them.”   What unfolded was no ordinary Friday—it became a day of grace and divine preparation, as God allowed him to walk alongside women in some of the most profound and vulnerable moments of their lives . Morning Mass & Crowning of Mary The day began joyfully with morning Mass, followed by a May Crowning ceremony. School children filled the church with sweet voices as they honored the Blessed Mother. Fr. Zinjin reflected with affection on “ all these lovely school kids ,” many of them young girls , as if the Lord was already p...
Read more

Mary, Mother of God: Clarifying the Titles and Deepening Devotion

Image
" The Virgin in Prayer "  by the Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato;  painted circa 1640–1650; Oil on canvas; housed in the National Gallery in London, UK . Recent guidance from the Vatican, through the Doctrinal Note Mater Populi Fidelis (Mother of the Faithful People), offers important clarity on how Catholics should properly understand the Virgin Mary's role in the work of salvation. This teaching affirms the beautiful truth about Mary while ensuring our focus remains firmly fixed on Jesus Christ, the one and only Savior. Part I: The Vatican's Clarification on Mary’s Cooperation The document addresses requests to define a fifth Marian dogma, particularly concerning the titles "Co-redemptrix" and "Mediatrix of all graces." A. The Ruling on Controversial Titles "Co-redemptrix" is Ruled Out: The Teaching: The document states that the use of this title is inappropriate . The Reason: It risks obscuring the truth of Christ's uni...
Read more

The Divine Blueprint of Headship and Submission in the Catholic Family

Image
We stand today at a crucial juncture in our faith journey, where the enduring relevance of Headship and Submission must be embraced not as an outdated structure, but as a divine blueprint for order, unity, and love within the Catholic family. This principle is not a relic of the past; it is a living truth that safeguards harmony in our homes and in the Church. It is God’s design for how love is to be ordered, expressed, and protected. Part I. The Divine Origin and True Nature of Headship and Submission The origin of Headship and Submission lies not in human convention, but within the very mystery of God Himself. In the Holy Trinity, the Father is the source , the Son perfectly submits to the Father’s will (John 6:38), and the Holy Spirit proceeds in perfect unity . The Son’s submission does not diminish His divinity; rather, it reveals the beauty of obedience born out of love . So too in the Christian family: the husband’s headship and the wife’s loving submission reflect the ...
Read more