On December 5, 2018, at the memorial service for US President George H W Bush, long time friend and former Republican Senator for Wyoming, Alan Simpson, remarked: “Those who travel the high road of humility in Washington DC are not bothered by heavy traffic!”

The line was met with laughter – and with a moment of reflection – in the Washington National Cathedral, packed with many who’d spent their careers climbing over the top of others to get to the top, scratching backs, doing deals, and cultivating ‘useful’ relationships for personal gain, while walking the seductive halls of power and politics in Washington DC. Sadly, very little has changed; not only in the political landscape, but across many areas of society. Humility, however, is an important virtue for authentic Christian self-understanding.

In this week’s Old Testament reading, Ben Sirach advises his son to conduct his business affairs with humility and to make wisdom and reflection hallmarks of his life: “The greater you are, the more you should behave humbly.” Then in the gospel, Jesus advises his audience to avoid seats of honour and posh guest-lists at parties, recommending humility to the leading Pharisees.

Humility means knowing who we are, and in relation to God and others; it means self-estimation according to truth. Talk to new parents about the wonder and awe they feel at the birth of a baby, the fruit of their love. Yet, they also sense a far greater mystery at work. We can’t be overwhelmed by the beauty of creation or the wonder of human life, while at the same time remain under an illusion of our own superiority or self-sufficiency.

The reality of our own gifts and achievements, of God’s grace and blessings at work in us, also give us confidence. We recognise our limits, but also our gifts. Our self-worth ought to reflect reverence for God who created us. Humility doesn’t mean weakness. Rather, it means that we’re self-aware and self-confident, comfortable in the presence of others, without feeling threatened.

Humility means being honest about ourselves, resisting flattery, admitting mistakes, and recognising others’ accomplishments, while also rejecting false humility or self-loathing, and appreciating our achievements or God’s achievements in us.

When Jesus tells people to practice humility, even at the dinner table, he’s not saying be unconcerned with excellence and honours. Otherwise, his story about the humble man being promoted makes no sense. We do great things, deserving of honour, but not for worldly praise. In humility, Jesus abandoned the exaltation of heaven for the earthiness of living among us. In humility, Jesus reached out to the poor, the women, the sick and the outcasts. In humility, Jesus freely gave his life for us.

Jesus calls us to humility: to know the truth of ourselves, to be in right relationship with one another and with God, and to allow ourselves to be lifted up by God.

“For everyone who exalts themselves will be humbled, but whoever humbles themselves will be exalted.”

David J Hore CSsR

© Majellan Media 2025

We encourage you to share and use this material on your own website. However, when using materials from Majellan Media, please include the following in your citation: Sourced from www.majellan.media