When I think of humility, I always recoil a little, because I automatically think of the worldly definition of humility. I think that’s a normal human reaction, especially when we are immersed in worldly concerns and cares. But in today’s Gospel, we have a perfect example of a truly humble man in John the Baptist.
Humility means to see oneself as he or she truly is in relation to God. John knew exactly who he was in light of Christ- a creature dependent on his Creator, and he tells the priests and Levites as much. He did not state that he was the Christ, but that he was the one who is “the voice of one crying out in the desert, prepare the way of the Lord” (Jn 1:23)
When we know who we are in Christ, we become who we were meant to be. We can accomplish great things for the Kingdom, if only we choose to see ourselves that way and submit to the will of the Father.
Today, let’s pray for the grace to see ourselves as the Lord sees us – beautiful and precious in his sight – and in taking that truth to heart, that we perform the most critical work of all – bringing others to Christ.
Cuando me pongo a pensar en la humildad, siempre me pongo un poco incómoda porque automáticamente pienso en la definición mundana de la humildad. Creo que es una reacción humana normal, especialmente cuando estamos inmersos en preocupaciones y cuidados mundanos. Pero en el Evangelio de hoy tenemos un ejemplo perfecto de un hombre verdaderamente humilde en Juan el Bautista.
La humildad significa verse a uno mismo como realmente es en relación con Dios. Juan sabía exactamente quién era a la luz de Cristo: una criatura que dependía de su Creador, y así se lo dice a los sacerdotes y levitas. No afirmó que era el Cristo, sino que era “la voz que grita en el desierto: ‘Enderecen el camino del Señor’” (Jn 1,23).
Cuando sabemos quiénes somos en Cristo, nos convertimos en quienes debíamos ser. Podemos lograr grandes cosas para el Reino, si tan solo elegimos vernos así y someternos a la voluntad del Padre.
Hoy, oremos por la gracia de vernos a nosotros mismos como nos ve el Señor –hermosos y preciosos a sus ojos– y, al tomar esa verdad en serio, realizar la obra más crítica de todas: llevar a otros a Cristo.
Mary Thissen is a St. Louis native living in East Central Illinois with her husband and children. She is blessed with twin boys Earthside and four children now living in Heaven. When she is not working as a healthcare data analyst or caring for her boys, she enjoys studying and writing about the Catholic faith and ministering to women who are suffering through miscarriage or infertility. You can connect with Mary on Instagram @waitingonmiracles.
Feature Image Credit: Cristian Gutiérrez, LC, cathopic.com/photo/10009-bautismo-de-jesus
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