Tag Archives: Humility

January 23, 2017

4th Sunday of the Year: Practicing humility

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

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Study:  How do you recognize a humble person?  What qualities do you look for in others?

Pray:  Do you struggle with pride (the opposite of humility) in some aspect of your life?  Ask the Lord to soften your heart.

Serve:  Is there a way you can help someone without calling attention to yourself?  How might you do a random act of kindness today, without any desire for personal acknowledgement?

Mass Readings – 4th Sunday of the Year

Let’s take a quick overview of the readings this week:

  • 1st Reading – Seek the Lord…seek justice, seek humility
  • Psalm – “Blessed the poor in spirit, the kingdom of heaven is theirs!”
  • 2nd Reading – God chooses the foolish, the weak and the lowly
  • Gospel – The Sermon on the Mount

Throughout these readings the notion of humility surfaces, and this virtue often serves as a foundation for our life of faith.  Here are some reasons why…

First, humility sets us in right relation with God.  About the time we get caught up in ourselves, something happens that derails our plans and reminds us that we are not the center of the universe.  When we see our lives in a larger context (the country, the world, the solar system…you get the idea) we suddenly discover that we are in fact very, very small.  As the creator of all we look to the Lord with a deeper understanding and consideration that our lives – a bit of dust for a blink of an eye – are nothing compared to the glory and grandeur of God.

Second, humility sets us in right relation with others.  Every person we meet is created in the image and likeness of God, and our lives are sustained by the Father’s will alone.  The same grace that forgives us our sins also extends to our sisters and brothers…and if the Lord lavishes mercy upon all in their moment of need, then perhaps we might want to cut them a little slack in their shortcomings as well.  Simply put, we can be kind, patient and forgiving with others as God has been with us.

Third, humility helps us honestly assess our human hearts.  Seeing ourselves in proper relationship with the Lord and one another, we can embrace our lives (with their blessings & burdens) and live our faith in a genuine and engaging way.  We see our sins with greater clarity, comprehend God’s mercy more fully, and live with gratitude the gifts we’ve been given with joy as we bring aid and assistance to one another.  In other words, humility helps us to be authentic: we know ourselves better so we can share our lives more fully with one another.

Through humility we place God first as we sincerely and honestly reach out to those around us.  A humble person is open, honest, easy to get along with and helpful in a moment of need.  May our faith in Christ teach us humility, and help us to humbly respond to those the Lord sets before us today.

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January 14, 2017

Daily Mass: Christ meets us where we are. Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

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Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast

Mass Readings – Saturday of the 1st Week of the Year

We discover from the Letter to the Hebrews and the Gospel of Mark three powerful insights about the Lord which can inspire us to draw near to the one who knows us and meets us where we are in life…that we might grow in grace.

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Photo Credit: Stained Glass Window, St. Patrick Catholic Church, Bisbee, Arizona

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October 29, 2016

Daily Mass: Seeking humility in our lives. Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

banquet

Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast

Mass Readings – Saturday of the 30th Week of the Year

The Lord makes an observation at a banquet to help his disciples cultivate humility in their lives.

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October 21, 2016

Daily Mass: some good words to live by. Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

scriptures

Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast

Mass Readings – Friday of the 29th Week of the Year

When I come across some gems of Sacred Scripture (like the 1st reading today) I want to cut them out and put them in a place where they will remind me of what we are about as disciples of Jesus.  Truly, they are some good words to live by!

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September 9, 2016

Daily Mass: Clear sight. Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

sight

Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast

Mass Readings – Friday of the 23rd Week of the Year (St. Peter Claver)

Jesus reminds his disciples that before we can point out the faults of others we have to see our own, taking the time to remove the chunk of wood in our own eye before we point out the splinter in another.

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August 28, 2016

22nd Sunday of the Year: Humility. Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

In this handout picture released by the Vatican Press Office, Pope Francis performs the foot-washing ritual at the Castelnuovo di Porto refugees center near Rome on March 24, 2016. Pope Francis washed the feet of 11 young asylum seekers and a worker at their reception centre to highlight the need for the international community to provide shelter to refugees. Several of the asylum seekers, one holding a baby in her arms, were reduced to tears as the 79-year-old pontiff kneeled before them, pouring water over their feet, drying them with a towel and bending to kiss them. / AFP PHOTO / STR / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / OSSERVATORE ROMANO" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS STR/AFP/Getty Images

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast

Mass Readings – 22nd Sunday of the Year

Through honest awareness, daily prayer, and a grateful heart we can see both the goodness and sinfulness of life as we cultivate humility in our souls.

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August 22, 2016

22nd Sunday of the Year – Humility

By Fr. Andrew Ricci
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Study:  Reflect on a person who loves selflessly.  What qualities do you see in their behavior toward others?

Pray:  Ask the Lord for the awareness to see more clearly the needs of others, and the grace to respond with love.

Serve:  How might you make a sacrifice to help someone?  How might you let go of what you want in order to assist another in need?

Mass Readings – 22nd Sunday of the Year 

The theme of humility surfaces throughout the readings this week.  Check this out:

  • 1st Reading – “My child, conduct your affairs with humility.”
  • Psalm – “God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.”
  • 2nd Reading – We draw near to Jerusalem, where Jesus and the angels dwell.
  • Gospel – “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

What does humility mean?  What does it mean to say that a person is humble?  The word is often misunderstood and misused, and yet it is an important concept in the Scriptures and Church teaching.

At it’s heart, humility is about our perspective of ourselves against a larger background.  We are not the center of the universe!  Rather, we understand that we exist in relationship to the Lord and one another.

God is the center and origin of our lives, from which we derive all grace and blessings.  We are sustained in the mind of God, and invited to love the Lord with all our heart and mind, body and soul.  For remember: the Lord loved us first, and out of love gave his Son to save us from our sins.

Yet the relationship is not just between ourselves and the Lord.  We also exist in relationship to one another.  We are part of a great communion of souls – both living and dead – and we are invited to grow in love of those around us.

Humility arises when we see ourselves clearly in the light of these relationships.  We understand that our needs and wants are always set in the context of other (often far greater) concerns.  When this happens we grow in awareness of how our lives interact and weave together, fostering communication, cooperation, and respect.

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July 1, 2014

14th Sunday of the Year – Meek & Humble of Heart

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Humility Quote

Study:  Name someone in your life who lives with sincere humility.  What behaviors stand out?

Pray:  Humility comes from knowing ourselves – warts and all.  Ask the Lord for the insight to truly see the blessings & burdens, successes and sins, that lie in our hearts.

Serve:  Is there a thankless or difficult task that you can do for another?  Can it be done with a loving sincerity?

14th Sunday Readings

In June of 1994 I came to Rome.  I had lived in the Holy Land since January and I was making my visit to my Italian roots as the last part of my journey. I stayed at the Benedictine monastery and school – St. Anselmo – which was governed by a monk from St. John’s, Abbot Jerome Theisen.

Abbot Jerome was a remarkable man.  A brilliant scholar with a pastoral heart, his duty as Abbot Primate was to visit Benedictine monasteries around the world – working to improve and strengthen monastic life across the globe.  Yet for all the travel and prominence of his work, Abbot Jerome was a gentle and humble man.

Shortly after he had arrived in Rome, the Abbot Primate began a regular routine of gardening each day.  He firmly believed in the Benedictine phrase, “Ora et Labora” (Prayer and Work) and set an example for the other monks by taking a certain amount of physical exercise each day.

On one particular morning, Abbot Jerome was out in the monastic gardens at work among the roses.  He was wearing a plain and well worn habit, devoid of any finery or ostentation.  He looked like a simple monk – and somewhat grubby at that!

While he was in the middle of his weeding a monk from another religious order came calling.  Seeing the elderly “brother” on his knees in the dirt he said, “Brother, is the Abbot Primate here today?”

Abbot Jerome replied, “Yes, he is here.”

The monk said, “I wish to speak with him.”

Abbot Jerome stood up and responded, “Very well.  What would you like to discuss?”

The monk, affronted by the impertinence of a dirty, sweaty “brother” (for what priest would be gardening…?) said, “Brother, I am an Abbot, and I demand to see the Abbot Primate AT ONCE!”

Abbot Jerome dusted his hands off his black habit, and extended his right hand in greeting.  He gently said, “Certainly.  I am Abbot Jerome.  How can I help you?”

The embarrassed monk stuttered an apology, and after a few moments excused himself.

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I have often thought of Abbot Jerome’s example.  Regardless of wealth, learning, or status, may we have the perspective to see ourselves, called by God to a meek and humble heart!

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August 27, 2013

22nd Sunday of the Year – Humility

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

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Study:  Consider people you know who relate to others in a humble and open manner.

Pray:  Where in your own life can you ask God for the humility to address a situation or concern?

Serve:  How might you be able to humbly help another, without thought of reward or recognition?

22nd Sunday Readings

The first reading and Gospel today invite us to practice the virtue of humility.  This is a good reminder, especially since this virtue often gets little or no attention.  Let’s face it – humility is not the sort of idea that sells advertising or readily leads to promotions.  Often humility is viewed as an outlet for the weak and pious.

So what does it mean to be humble?  Here are a few things it is NOT:
* we do not grovel or belittle ourselves
* we do not pretend that we are worthless
* we do not ignore our blessings or talents
* we do not adopt a self-debasing attitude

Humility is a virtue that is fundamentally rooted in our faith.  It is based on these points:

1.  There is a God; I am not Him!

2.  I am made in God’s image & likeness

3.  God does not make junk

4.  I have sinned and made mistakes

5.  God has redeemed me through the Cross

In this light we are called to two essential elements.  First, we need to gain an accurate sense of PERSPECTIVE.  We recognize God’s presence in our lives, and we see and acknowledge our own sin and weakness.  We must truly examine ourselves in the light of the Lord’s grace and love.

Second, we are called to a faithful and healthy RESPONSE.  If I see and understand myself with honesty, then I will act in a manner that reflects my need for God’s forgiveness.  I treat others according to the teaching of Christ:  with love, forgiveness, mercy and hope.  Knowing our own sinfulness thus allows us to respond to others with compassion…… and humility!

Humility thus requires a few basic ingredients.  We are asked to honestly know our hearts; we discover and trust in the Lord’s grace; we respond to our brothers and sisters with heightened awareness; we recognize that our lives have meaning – as we share the gifts and talents (given to us by God) for the good of our world.

When these ingredients are present we discover a profound freedom and joy.  God loves us!  We are invited to see clearly and act accordingly, thus allowing our lives to honestly reflect our faith in Christ.

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