HUMBLING EXPERIENCES
Let's remember
that Jesus, God's Son, came to us as one of us, not to be served but to serve.
One
of my favorite in Psalms is Psalm 8. The psalmist ponders the place of humanity
in the vast scope of God's creation. "When I see the heavens, the work of
Your hands, the moon and the stars which You arranged. What are we that You
should keep us in mind, mere mortals that You should care for us" (Ps 8:4
- 5)?
Jesus
Christ shows this same unending care in today's Gospel parable. A shepherd
loses one sheep in a larger flock of a hundred. He acts against all human
calculations of value and loss. The shepherd reveals God's desire that, even in
a vast creation, no one is overlooked. Even though we are a speck of dust in
this infinite universe we are cared for by the limitless love of God. Let's
remember that Jesus, God's Son, came to us as one of us, not to be served but
to serve. He humbled Himself and died for our sins, and then rose from the dead
so that we can live. Everyone is important to God.
Today
the Church honors St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious. She was born in
Dijon, France and married a nobleman, Baron de Chantal, with whom she bore six
children. After her husband's death, she placed herself under the guidance of
St. Frances de Sales and devoted her life to charitable works, especially among
the poor and sick. She founded the Visitation order. St. Jane Frances de
Chantal also cared about every human life and humbled herself, living a joyful,
Gospel life.
I
would like to quote a piece of her words from a reflection that is in today's
Magnificat:
"Only
the truly humble shall be exalted, says the Blessed Virgin... Let us then
humble ourselves, not serving God negligently, but striving to employ
vigorously all our strength to acquire true humility of heart and submission.
Let us examine ourselves continually before God if we can say with truth that
we are submissive to all that is wished of us, receiving all as coming from the
hand of God Most High, Who sees the depths of our hearts... 'Upon whom shall My
spirit rest,' He says by the prophet, 'but upon the humble and contrite of heart,
who fears My words? The prayer of the humble shall be heard' (Is 66:2). These
are the words of Holy Scripture which ought to excite us strongly to become
little and to love our littleness."
Reflect
today on your past humbling experiences!