04-04-25

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
April 4, 2025
A lot of people confuse being humble with being humiliated. At first glance, there might be some similarities, at least from a distant observation point. But choosing to be humble begins with a choice, a fully conscious choice. Humiliation is often an intentional choice by an individual or group to inflict suffering upon another person. The one humiliated did not participate in the choice. The author of 1st Peter offers some insightful words about humility. “…clothe yourselves with humility toward each other. God stands against the arrogant, but he gives favor to the humble.” Those words have been used to suggest that God brings punishment on the arrogant and blesses the humble. But let’s be real. We know plenty of arrogant people who appear very blessed, at least in certain areas. I prefer to think of it like someone stepping into a river. The person can try to go against the current or with the current. Choosing to be humble is to step into the divine current and allow the current to move one in the ways of God. It doesn’t mean there won’t be a few rocks one hits along the way, but in the end, a person is not spiritually exhausted from fighting the current. Instead, the person is refreshed and feels fully immersed in the way of God. If one chooses to swim against the current, it doesn’t mean God stops loving the person. God’s love is eternal, yet every choice we make has consequences—not in regard to God, but in regard to our impact upon the world.

Continue to beckon us into your holy current, Lord God. We desire to join you in the powerful and transformative way of humility, most visibly displayed on the cross. Amen.