Commentary on the Gospel of
The English word “humility” finds it origin in the Latin word “humus” which means “earth” or “dirt.” We can see that origin in the common phrase used to a humble, kind person – “down to earth.” Put simply, being humble means that we remember that God formed human beings from the earth, instilling in them the breath of life. When we act with humility, we remember that God is God and we are not.
Jesus calls his disciples to seek a life of humble service, not fame and power. rather than striving to be the greatest, we should strive to be like Jesus who gave his life for us. We should model our lives on the lives of small children, dependent on God and trusting in him to provide everything that we need. By receiving everything we have as a gift of God, we do not fall into the trap of believing that we have earned our good fortune, lest we be tempted to ignore those less fortunate as if they somehow deserve less. Rather, in gratitude we place our gifts at the service of others. Amazingly, being down to earth can bring us closer to heaven.
