It is in the family, first and foremost, where humility is learned and cultivated. Our family, for example, being a traditional Filipino family follows the practice of patriarchal culture. We have a designated chair for the father as head of the family in our dining room.
It is very encouraging when even youngest members of the family exemplifies the teachings of the family My cousin's daughters are living examples of our traditional virtue. Considering the case of theirs being wealthy, they still embrace the standard of living enjoyed by their relatives. Or is it perhaps because of their age that they still don't have a sense of who is rich and impoverished.
Another friend of mine who comes to mind when talking about humility is Rizzel. She regardless of their financial capacity, chose to live in very simple lifestyle. Although we were only given one year of bonding and laughters together, she remained a very good friend all these years. I admire the fact that she is contented and does not desire things that are extra high. her father and mother too, simple as they are always present in the Eucharistic Chapel offering their prayers as form of generosity, generosity of time.
Last night I was watching a Survivor Philippine special with Jessica Soho. An interview with the new host, who is also a favorite actor of mine, Richard Gutierrez arrested my attention. The crews of the survivor production team gave testimonies about how Richard as a host is. They said they never experienced any headache with Richard. he is cooperative, prepared, obedient and most of all simple in many ways. The actor never acted as a brat nor a royalty and I think it is because Richard is happy with who he is inside out. he doesn't have to brag of his persona just to lift himself. It is the people around who puts him paramount to everyone. And I think that is the reward of being humble.
Another humble person is Saint John the Baptist. Imagine being beheaded because of his righteous living and condemnation of incest. He is a person who is willing to give up life. And that is in itself a form of humility. A humble person is willing to forego his pride and other luxuries, but a more humble person is willing to give up his own life for the sake of Christian morality. Very timely, the gospel is read during the Feast of Saint John's Beheading. A reminder that all of us should be humble. Remember what he said when he saw Jesus, that he is not worthy to untie the thongs of his sandals.
But there is no other humble person who can surpass a humble God. A god who in his humility embraced the humanity remaining still as god and then accepted even death on a cross. This humility is the HUMILITY of all humilities. Jesus is practically teaching us to seat not on the throne but to serve without something in return to wait. Jesus is telling us that when we wait for recognition then the recognition prepared in heaven will not be given. DO not brag about redemption through religion, once you may find out one day on the judgment day that you are not saved. Instead be generous and humble. Generosity can only happen when one is truly humble. You cannot invite the poor if you think you are rich. Jesus told the host, invite the lame, the cripples, the blind because all of us are imperfect and in the Last Day the Lord will be doing the same. We are unworthy to be invited but the Lord invites us in heaven. There is a deep eschatological implication with that statement and we are not here to discuss that. Jesus wants us to practice humility by a visible generosity. That is why the Church being His body, is a Church for The Poor.
The Church herself is immersed in the quadrant of understanding and protecting the rights of the poor. More than that, I am to add that the Church is dedicating her very self in uplifting the status of living of every impoverished individuals not only financially but holistically. The Church should learn more from the poor and form the differently abled. There alone can humility prosper.
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