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Bible Study on Humility Insights

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8 views2 pages

Bible Study on Humility Insights

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Uploaded by

derigesalme
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© All Rights Reserved
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Date: March 31, 2019

Venue: Michelle Nunez Residence

Reminders:

April CLP @ Holy Family, every Saturday at 7pm-10 pm


April 14 CPA @ Kostka, 7:30 – 11:00 am
April 28 Sector GMT (Mission Assembly Teaching)

Topic: Humility

Songs for Worship:


1. Follow you
2. God is Enough
3. Have your way

Bible Verse:
“Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than
yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)

Reflection:

Litany of Humility

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me.


From the desire of being esteemed, DELIVER ME, JESUS
From the desire of being loved…
From the desire of being extolled…
From the desire of being honored…
From the desire of being praised…
From the desire of being preferred to others…
From the desire of being consulted…
From the desire of being approved…
From the fear of being humiliated…
From the fear of being despised…
From the fear of suffering rebukes…
From the fear of being calumniated…
From the fear of being forgotten…
From the fear of being ridiculed…
From the fear of being wronged…
From the fear of being suspected…
That other may be loved more than I, JESUS, GRANT ME THE GRACE TO DESIRE IT
That others may be esteemed more than I…
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease…
That others may be chosen and I set aside…
That others may be praised and I unnoticed…
That others may be preferred to me in everything…
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…
This is a popular prayer about humility entitled “Litany of Humility”, composed by Cardinal Rafael del Val
(1865-1930) that teaches us what humility is and how can we truly practice it. This prayer desires
selflessness rather than self-centeredness. It is a prayer that asks us to look at others first before
attending to our own personal needs and desires, even to the point of abandoning self for the sake of
others.

In the same light, St. Teresa of Calcutta had a very compelling teaching on what humility is that will
somehow affirm the “Litany of Humility”. According to her, “Humility is the mother of all virtues; purity,
charity and obedience. It is in being humble that our love becomes real, devoted and ardent. If you are
humble, nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know who you are. If you are
blamed you will not be discouraged. If they call you a saint you will not put yourself on pedestal.”
Humility is easier taught in words than to live it out. It is always easier to look for mistakes and get
angry. However, humility as a virtue brings us always closer to God who is “the greatest good”,
regardless of how difficult it is to practice. We look to the Blessed Virgin Mary, as our model of humility.
A humble heart always acknowledges the special favors of the Lord, puts others needs before his or her
own and desires nothing but to please God alone. In all circumstances of her life, Mary accepted
everything with profound humility. “Mary was humble because she knew that God the Almighty wanted
to do ‘great things’ (Luke 1:49) in her; not by her own power, but through the working of His power, not
by her wisdom but according to the wisdom of His plans and purposes.

Key Takeaway:
One attribute of holiness is humility. Humility is recognizing that whatever we have, who we are, and
whoever we’ll be is dependent on the grace of God. To practice humility is a personal decision we have
to choose everyday.

Sharing:
1. How do you practice humility in everyday life?
2. What ways can you inspire others to practice humility?

Common questions

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Embracing humility positively impacts one's relationship with God by fostering a deeper spiritual connection rooted in recognizing and relying on God's grace. Humility involves acknowledging that all virtues and achievements are gifts from God, which enhances one's capacity for charity, obedience, and purity. This realization aligns the believer's thoughts and actions with divine principles, thus reinforcing a genuine and unwavering bond with God, characterized by selflessness and spiritual devotion .

The practice of humility is illustrated in the Bible through the verse from Philippians 2:3, which advises against selfishness and vainglory, urging individuals to regard others as more important than themselves. The Blessed Virgin Mary serves as a model of humility, having accepted God's plans for her with profound humility. Her recognition of God's power over her own emphasizes reliance on God's grace rather than personal strength or wisdom. From these examples, one learns that humility involves selflessness, an acknowledgment of divine power, and viewing oneself in the context of serving God and others rather than seeking personal recognition .

To develop humility in everyday life, the document suggests adopting the mindsets and behaviors encapsulated in the Litany of Humility and the teachings of figures like St. Teresa of Calcutta. Practical steps include consciously putting the needs and esteem of others before oneself, embracing criticism and remaining unaffected by praise, consistently reflecting on personal motivations, and striving to acknowledge God’s power and purpose in one's life. Such practices require continuous self-reflection and spiritual exercises aimed at reducing self-centered tendencies and promoting a life aligned with virtues rooted in humility .

Humility is related to God as "the greatest good" because it aligns the individual with God's will, emphasizing the recognition of all achievements and virtues as stemming from His grace. Practicing humility involves consistent acknowledgment of God’s supremacy and the dependencies on His grace in our lives. Personal challenges in striving toward this virtue include overcoming innate desires for personal recognition, battling fears of inadequacy or being undervalued, and maintaining the focus on God rather than oneself in various life circumstances, as demonstrated through both biblical teachings and examples from figures like the Virgin Mary .

The Litany of Humility prayer guides individuals to transform desires focused on self-esteem into desires for selflessness. It specifically lists desires such as being esteemed, loved, extolled, honored, praised, preferred, consulted, and approved, seeking deliverance from these desires and the fears related to being humiliated, despised, rebuked, calumniated, forgotten, ridiculed, wronged, and suspected. The prayer encourages valuing others more highly and aims to shift focus from personal desires to the well-being of others, asking Jesus for the grace to desire others being loved and esteemed more than oneself .

Mary's humility is exemplified through her acknowledgment of God's power at work in her life, rather than relying on her strength or wisdom. She accepted the divine mission with humble recognition that the 'great things' were done through God's power, not her own. This acceptance serves as an ideal example of submitting personal abilities to divine authority, showing that true greatness is realized through God's grace rather than human effort, thus demonstrating a profound sense of humility .

Viewing humility as a daily personal decision is crucial because it transforms humility from a mere ideal into a practical, lived experience. This perspective emphasizes that humility isn't an innate trait but a constant choice to align one's actions and thoughts with selflessness, recognizing dependence on God's grace. It highlights the need for continuous commitment to prioritize others’ needs and God’s will, acknowledging personal limitations and focusing on spiritual growth rather than societal values of success and recognition .

The prayer of Litany of Humility and St. Teresa of Calcutta's views align in their emphasis on selflessness and focusing on others foremost. The prayer seeks deliverance from personal desires for esteem, love, and approval, paralleling St. Teresa's assertion that humility lets us remain unaffected by praise or blame due to true self-awareness. Both perspectives stress that love and virtue become genuine only when rooted in humility, as this allows one to serve without the distraction of personal gain or vanity, affirming the tenets of self-abnegation and divine focus .

Living out the teachings of the Litany of Humility presents challenges, especially in a modern context that often rewards self-promotion and personal achievement. Individuals may struggle with the internal conflict between innate ambitions and the desire to be humble. The social environment often propagates the ideals of success and recognition, which are counter to the litany's call for selflessness and placing others first. Overcoming these societal pressures requires a continuous personal decision to choose humility daily, as well as finding intrinsic satisfaction in virtues beyond public acknowledgment .

St. Teresa of Calcutta described humility as "the mother of all virtues," which fosters purity, charity, and obedience. She taught that humility allows love to become real, devoted, and ardent. With humility, an individual remains unaffected by praise or disgrace, as it reinforces a true understanding of self. This understanding provides the foundation for other virtues to develop genuinely and sustainably, without being swayed by external perceptions or judgments .

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