Lenten Reflections

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By Tom Canuel ’24

When St. Bernard of Clairvaux was asked what the three most important virtues are, he replied: “Humility, humility, and humility.”

If I had to summarize today’s readings in one word, I think ‘humility’ would sum it up. Humility comes from the Latin word humilitas, meaning ‘lowliness’ or ‘unimportance,’ but not in the way we typically define it. Our society typically sees humility as something degrading, letting yourself being trampled over and focusing on our weaknesses. Humility becomes something ‘backwards’ in a world that pushes us to be self-sufficient and promote ourselves. In short, humility is often swapped out for scrupulosity.

However, this is not the full picture. Humility is our recognition of our strengths and our weaknesses. If we are humble, we allow ourselves to be vulnerable and to be seen as we fully are, the same way that God sees us. Humility means showing the best and worst parts of ourselves, accepting that we are not perfect but continuing to make efforts to move to holiness, love, and realize that we are saints in the making.

This is exactly the idea that Jesus is trying to get at with the Pharisees in today’s Gospel. Jesus knows the hypocrisy that has rooted itself in the hearts of the Pharisees. Jesus preaches how the Pharisees “preach but do not practice,” that “all their works are performed to be seen,” and “they love places of honor at banquets.” The Pharisees perform public prayer to gain admiration and place high expectations on those they are supposed to be serving. In other words, they place themselves and their image before God and their community.

However, Jesus gives a new command to the Pharisees: “The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Although this sounds easy in words, the application of humility is much more difficult. So, how can we apply this to our lives? Well, Lent is a great time to work on humility. During Lent, we are stripped down so to speak. We fast from something that takes up our time or something we really enjoy. We give of our time, energy, and talents to others in our practice of giving alms. We devote ourselves more to prayer. As we continue to journey through this Lenten season, let us fast from pride and remember who we are. Let us be vulnerable with one another, showing everyone who we are wholly in our strengths and weaknesses. Finally, let us ask the Holy Spirit to inspire our lives in humility, always seeking to put others first and remembering who we are as fallen humans yet children of the Almighty Father.

That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease…and 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.