Reflect today on how humble you are at heart

“Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled; but anyone who humbles himself will be exalted. " Matthew 23:12

Humility seems such a contradiction. We are easily tempted to think that the way of greatness implies that everyone knows everything we do well. There is a constant temptation for most people to present their best face and to hope that others will see and admire it. We want to be noticed and praised. And often we try to make it happen from the little things we do and say. And we often tend to exaggerate who we are.

The downside, if someone criticizes us and thinks badly of us, has the potential to be devastating. If we hear that someone has said something negative about us, we could go home and be depressed or angry for the rest of the day, or even for the rest of the week! Because? Because our pride is hurt and that wound can hurt. It can hurt if we haven't discovered the incredible gift of humility.

Humility is a virtue that allows us to be real. It allows us to eliminate any false person we can have and simply be who we are. It allows us to be comfortable with our good qualities and our failures. Humility is nothing but honesty and truth about our lives and feeling comfortable with that person.

Jesus gives us a wonderful lesson in the Gospel passage above which is very difficult to live but is absolutely the key to living a happy life. He wants us to get excited! He wants us to be noticed by others. He wants our light of kindness to shine so that everyone can see and that that light makes the difference. But he wants it done in truth, not presenting a fake person. He wants the real "I" to shine. And this is humility.

Humility is sincerity and authenticity. And when people see this quality in us they are impressed. Not so much in a mundane way but in an authentic human way. They will not look at us and will be envious, rather, they will look at us and see the true qualities that we have and they will appreciate them, they will admire and want to imitate them. Humility allows the real you to shine. And, believe it or not, the real you is someone others want to meet and get to know.

Reflect today on how genuine you are. Make this time of Lent a time when the folly of pride is broken. Let God eliminate any false image of yourself so that the true you can shine. Humble yourself in this way and God will take you and exalt in his own way so that your heart can be seen and loved by those around you.

Lord, make me humble. Help me to be sincere and honest about who I am. And in that honesty, help me to make your heart shine, living in mine, so that others can see it. Jesus I believe in you.