Page 219 - spiritual_accompaniment_montreal_archdiocese

HOMILIES

Before expressing humility in words and actions, his humility is expressed in his innermost
being. He is humble. In the same way, we are called to be Jesus’ disciples, to become humble
ourselves, to be humble.

We can find the way through prayer: “Lord, teach me! Teach me to recognize that I received
everything! Teach me never to forget that I received everything.” And even when success
should happen, I should pray: “Lord, I thank you because I received everything! I received my
gifts, I received the strength to work, I received success. I received it all.”

The more we develop our sense to have received everything, the more we walk on the path to
humility. Being able to recognize that I have all received lets me recognize how lucky I am to
be God’s creature. Having all received and aware of being a creature of God makes me happy,
it really makes me happy. As God’s creature, I have received all. Without God, I had nothing.
Without God, I were nothing. But with God, I am a human being called to be a child of God.

Humility is a fundamental quality in being human. It is truly a quality of the heart, a quality
of the soul, a quality of the spirit, a quality that we are called to develop, with the challenge to
make it grow in us.

This challenge is paradoxical. Humility is not acquired by practices that I might find in books
that tell me what to do for 10 minutes a day, or maybe another exercise that tells me what to
do for 20 minutes each day. There is no book that tells me what exercise to do in order to
become humble. There are no exercises that let me acquire humility because humility is a gift.

If humility were the fruit of our efforts, then we could be proud of being humble. This would
certainly not be humility! Humility is a gift, a pure gift. If we receive it, we must have an
attitude of availability and total openness.
Where might we be able to learn what humility is about?

Look at the little ones, new-born babies, in their mothers’ arms, in their fathers’ arms. A new-
born knows that he has received everything. He knows that when he cries and no one answers,
there is a problem.

If he knows that there will always be someone who tends to him, he does not find his joy in
saying “I have relied on myself.” His joy is to know that he has received everything. He knows
that his parents will take care of him. He remains continuously joyful in having received
everything.

(cont’d)

Collection of texts by the Most Rev. Christian Lépine 219