A scripture reflection on I Peter 5:5
In today’s passage we see Peter highlight the importance of humility. In a world that can easily be defined as ruthless and competitive, the idea humility is a breath of fresh air. Yet, humility is one of those words that can be challenging to define. Some may define it as “thinking little of yourself” or “not being prideful” or maybe simply “to be meek”. The saints defined it differently. Saint Thomas Aquinas said, “The virtue of humility consists in keeping oneself within one’s own bounds, not reaching out to things above one, but submitting to one’s superior”. Saint Bernard simply said humility is a “virtue by which a man knowing himself as he truly is, abases himself.” Humility is key in our spiritual lives as it safeguards us from pride and keeps things in proper order. Without humility our priorities can become skewed. We can become focused on ourselves and not on those around us.
It is one thing to be able to define humility; it is another thing altogether to live it. To put others before yourself. To know your gifts and weaknesses and to be free in that truth. C.S. Lewis once said of humility, “not think less of yourself but to think of yourself less”. It can be difficult to find a great example of humility in today’s world, and that is why we turn to Christ, who, as St. Paul reminds us, emptied himself, humbled himself and became “obedient to death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2:8). How can you follow Christ’s example today?
