First of all, humility is a particularly Christian virtue.
A good definition of humility is the virtue by which we joyfully and practically recognize our dependence on God.
- That's right; we are dependent on God.
- He created us; he created the universe; he holds the universe in existence; he keeps the laws of gravity and electromagnetism constant, so that the order of the cosmos doesn't descend into chaos...
- And he also redeemed us.
- We can experience the forgiveness of our sins because God has sent us a Savior.
- We can hope for heaven because Jesus rose from the dead (as today’s Second Reading reminds us) and offers us a share in the resurrection through his friendship and sacraments.
- We are dependent on God.
A practical recognition of this dependence means obeying God's commandments - the teachings of Jesus and his Church.
In ancient times, the pagans had a practical recognition of their dependence on divine powers.
- Unlike modern secularists, they realized that they couldn't control the universe, that there existed powers greater than themselves.
- And so they had religious ceremonies, which, they hoped, would keep them on the good side of the pagan gods.
- But this recognition of their dependence was not joyful.
- And in fact, the pagans didn't recognize humility - the joyful and practical recognition of our dependence on God - as a virtue.
- The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle considered it a weakness.
- Why?
- Because the pagan gods didn't care about human beings; they didn't love us; they were extraordinarily powerful, but not especially good.
- Being dependent on them, therefore, was risky business.
But Jesus has revealed to us that there is only one God, and he is not only all-powerful, but also all-good, all-loving, all-merciful.
- And so, we can rejoice in the knowledge that we are dependent on him.
- We are in the best of hands.
- This is the why humility is a particularly Christian virtue.