“Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also for those of others. Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil 2:2-11
The humility that was shown by Jesus in becoming one of us is beyond all human understanding. The Lord, who is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, took on the form of a slave and suffered and died to redeem us from sin. This divine humility marked out a path for us to follow, a virtue for us to imitate. But the virtue of humility is one that is very difficult to cultivate in our own lives. It is much more natural for us to desire to be respected, chosen, loved, and even exalted by others. But we are called to surrender all pride, to forsake selfishness, to think of others first, even to the point of giving up all we have for the love of God. By choosing to be obedient to God’s will and being grateful for our circumstances – even for our sufferings – we move ourselves aside, allowing God to lift us up with Him to eternal life, to heights beyond our imaginings.
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