[Monday Motivation]
In yesterday’s Gospel reading of the “Woman Caught in Adultery” (and again we reiterate – it’s no less shameful for the man involved) – Jesus’ pitch-perfect response to ever situation was again on display.
And we saw that one of the ways we can work to emulate Jesus’ example is to approach each new situation that comes at us with the “Big Three” – mercy, justice and humility. Before when open our mouth we should develop the reflexive exercise of asking, “Am I being being humble? Am I being just? Am I being merciful?”
Today we’ll look at little more at humility. Tomorrow, justice and mercy.
Humility – called the queen of virtues because it vanquishes pride – the king (more like blood-thirsty tyrant) of capital sins.
St. Augustine, in so many words, wrote the three greatest virtues are humility, humility and humility.
To be humble is to be grounded (humble comes from the word humus – earth). The humble person knows what they’re about, their strengths and weaknesses, they do not put on airs. We all know it when we see it (and when we practice it).
Here’s a little trick for growing in humility – practice gratitude. The two go hand-in-hand. The precious gift tucked away in every gesture of gratitude is the gentle reminder that we need others. Gratitude reminds us that we are small. We are needy (in a good way). And thus gratitude keeps us grounded – humus.
St Francis de Sales, in his masterful The Devout Life, teaches that “a lively appreciation of the grace given to you should make you humble, for appreciation begets gratitude.”
Back to the woman caught in adultery, the Church Fathers home in on Christ’s humility as he bends to the ground before the Pharisees. He does so for many reasons, but not the least is in His great humility. Christ knows what He is about. He did not need to puff Himself up. He did not need to make a grand speech with impressive words. He did not need to perform mighty deeds.
He desired only to serve the woman placed before Him. And He acted first from a place of humility.
And so humility is a great place for us to start when confronted with a challenging situation.
In fact, and in all humility, our question at the start of this message isn’t quite right. We should not ask “Am I being humble …”, it’s almost certain that we’re missing the mark. We should instead pray, “Holy Spirit, help me to be humble.” And then, “Holy Spirit, guide me in Your justice. Holy Spirit, fill me with Your mercy.”
Steve and Karen Smith
Interior Life
Postscript: The Woman Caught in Adultery (John 8:1-11)
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle.
They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”
They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him.
Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders.
So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
She replied, “No one, sir.”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”