O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, Hear me. From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus.
Thus starts the Litany of Humility, attributed to an unknown Roman Catholic clergyman. With a subject such as humility, the author, of course, is not as important as the prayer’s requests themselves. And what a collection of requests it is! We ask for delivery from the desire of being honored, praised, consulted or approved; delivery from the fear of being humiliated, forgotten or ridiculed; grace to want others to be chosen, praised or preferred. The kicker is the final line of the prayer: “That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.”
Simon the Pharisee in today’s Gospel from Luke probably could benefit from such a prayerful plea. When Jesus is kind and accepting of the sinful, sorrowful woman bathing his feet with her tears, Simon thinks in terms of condescension. Jesus recognizes this and lets Simon know that the forgiveness of sins is not a contest. God wants to forgive all sins, no matter how bad they might be. We, the sinners, however, have to be sorry for them and want them to be forgiven. God will not force forgiveness upon those who don’t seek it. Jesus reminds Simon that those with great sin will have even greater joy from forgiveness, and at no point should there be jealousy about it.
Realization of sin, great sorrow because of that sin, and firm desire to repent and leave that sin behind all grows from a place of humility. Perhaps we could ask ourselves the question, “Who do I think I am?” An honest answer would be — a sinner, a person who has failed to love, a person who has failed to serve others, a person who has put self ahead of God and other people — is a step in the right direction toward humility, repentance and ultimately forgiveness. We must never forget the power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. God is waiting for us there. What are we waiting for?
Jesus, grant that I may become as holy as I should, and may that be enough for me.
Oh Jesús, manso y humilde de corazón, escúchame. Del deseo de ser estimado, líbrame, Jesús.
Así comienza la Letanía de la Humildad, atribuida a un clérigo católico romano desconocido. En un tema como la humildad, el autor, por supuesto, no es tan importante como las peticiones de la oración, y ¡qué colección de peticiones es! Pedimos liberación del deseo de ser honrado, alabado, consultado o aprobado; liberación del miedo a ser humillado, olvidado o ridiculizado; gracia para desear que otros sean elegidos, alabados o preferidos. El broche de oro es la última línea de la oración: “Que otros lleguen a ser más santos que yo, con tal de que yo llegue a ser tan santo como debiera, Jesús, concédeme la gracia de desearlo”.
Simón el fariseo, en el Evangelio de hoy según san Lucas, probablemente podría beneficiarse de una súplica tan efusiva. Cuando Jesús se muestra bondadoso y tolerante con la mujer pecadora y afligida que le lava los pies con lágrimas, Simón piensa en términos de condescendencia. Jesús reconoce esto y le hace saber que el perdón de los pecados no es una competencia. Dios quiere perdonar todos los pecados, sin importar cuán graves sean. Nosotros, los pecadores, sin embargo, debemos sentir pena por ellos y desear su perdón. Dios no impondrá el perdón a quienes no lo buscan. Jesús le recuerda a Simón que los que han cometido grandes pecados tendrán un gozo aún mayor por el perdón, y en ningún momento se debe sentir envidia por ello.
La comprensión del pecado, el profundo dolor por él y el firme deseo de arrepentirse y dejarlo atrás surgen de la humildad. Quizás podríamos preguntarnos: “¿Quién me creo ser?” Una respuesta honesta sería—un pecador, una persona que no ha amado, una persona que no ha servido a los demás, una persona que se ha puesto a sí misma por encima de Dios y de los demás—es un paso en la dirección correcta hacia la humildad, el arrepentimiento y, en última instancia, el perdón. Nunca debemos olvidar el poder del Sacramento de la Reconciliación. Dios nos espera allí. ¿Para qué esperamos?
Jesús, ayúdame a llegar a ser tan santo como debo, y que eso me baste.
Mike Karpus is a regular guy. He grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, graduated from Michigan State University and works as an editor. He is married to a Catholic school principal, raised two daughters who became Catholic school teachers at points in their careers, and now relishes his two grandchildren, including the older one who is fascinated with learning about his faith. He also has served on a Catholic school board, a pastoral council and a parish stewardship committee. He currently is a lector at Mass, a Knight of Columbus, Adult Faith Formation Committee member and a board member of the local Habitat for Humanity organization. But mostly he’s a regular guy.
Feature Image Credit: cottonbro studio, pexels.com/photo/woman-leaning-on-a-bench-6284260/
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