Of Humility...

It's hard to be humble when you have something to be proud of. So they say but the Gospel today teaches us about humility. In the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, Jesus said that "for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (Lk 18:14)

Sometimes we tend to become like the Pharisee in the parable who is so obsessed with his own virtues. Instead of mending individual differences, we create animosity with each other. If we could only be like the tax collector and admit that we are all sinners, that we do not own the world, that we need each other and realize that we are but a speck of dust to the greatness of God, then it would have been nice to live in a world where peace and love reign.

Humility allows us to recognize the qualities of others. Humility teaches us LOVE. It was for the love of God that he humbled Himself and sent His only Son to be with us, to live among us and to suffer and die on the cross for us.

Lastly, one of my friends taught me of this beautiful prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi, "Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen."