Moments
Humility is the key
By Fr. Jerry Orbos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:46:00 07/05/2008
THE STORY IS TOLD ABOUT A PATIENT WHO was grimacing in pain and said: “Doctor, I have so much pain!”
The doctor replied: “OK, I’ll give you morphine.”
And the patient said: “No, Doctor, please give me less, not more pain!”
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In today’s Gospel (Mt. 11, 25-30) Jesus tells us, “Come to me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Is there anything bothering you right now? Go back to the Lord, and He will give you light, and lightness of heart. The key to God’s heart and to true peace is humility.
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We prolong and magnify our pain if we don’t know how to surrender to God in humility. God’s offer is clear: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest,” but instead of coming to God, we go to worldly solutions and illusions hoping to alleviate our pains, and we end up more burdened and more pained. Can you not just accept, in humility, your dependence on God and acknowledge your need for Him?
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For those who think that they are “wise and learned” in this world, please listen to the Lord tell us again today that the key to true peace is humility. As long as you think you are some god, as long as you play the control and the power game, you are in the losing end. Sooner or later you will fail, and you will realize that you are frail. Stop playing games with God. Stop fooling yourself. Stop fleeing. Start going home. The way? Humility.
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If you find yourself on a dead-end, remember: humility is the key to open and unlock doors. Are you experiencing any “dead-end” situation in your life right now? Instead of fretting or grieving, or despairing, why don’t you start praying and start picking up the pieces again? Remember, you are not yet dead, and it is not yet the end.
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Papa and Mama always told me that it’s better to be humble than to be proud, to be honest than to be defiant, to be forgiving than to be tough. I used to look back and think that perhaps they thought that way because they did not have much in this life. But now, the more I think about it the more it seems to me that they thought that way precisely because they had much—they had God, they had values, and they had the wisdom of the “little ones.”
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I always end up my day on my knees. Before I sleep, I kneel before God and thank Him for the day that was, and in humility, I surrender everything—good or bad, happy or sad, and I feel peace and serenity within. Humility is the secret to a good night’s rest. When one has surrendered everything, what is there still left for worrying?
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In humility, we must acknowledge that we are all stewards and stewardesses in this world. We came to this world with nothing, and we are going to leave this world with nothing. Humility makes us realize that all worldly desires and achievements are empty and vain without God’s approval and consent. Obey in humility and you’ll have serenity. Disobey and be haughty, and you’ll be unhappy.
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Last week, a perennial counselee came to me telling me that finally she was free! Why? Because she has finally forgiven her enemy in humility. If only she had forgiven earlier! She told me that when she let go of her hurt and swallowed her pride, she finally saw the light.
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Speaking of light, every Saturday, at 9 p.m. through 10:30 p.m., tune in to dzMM (630 khz on your radio dial) and join us in our radio program “Light Moments” to prepare for the Lord’s day the next day, Sunday. During the program we discuss and share the Sunday Gospel. Joining us in our program, by telephone from San Diego, California, will be 14-year-old Fatima Soriano. Listeners can also join us by phone or by text. This program will be broadcast all over the world through teleradyo. To God be the glory!
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Congratulations to Fr. Dionisio Miranda, SVD, on his investiture as the 10th president of the University of San Carlos, Cebu City. One with you in prayer as we remember, rejoice and renew on this our SVD centennial year in the Philippines.
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“Mom’s A Stewardess,” a book by Angelica B. Viloria will be launched on July 9, 3 p.m. at the Hope Center, Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City. It will be available at National Bookstore and Powerbooks outlets. The author shares practical yet deeply spiritual insights based on the concept that life is a stewardship. Yes, we are all stewards/stewardesses, and God is the pilot. We are all called to serve our brothers and sisters in humility as we journey.
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, help me realize that humility is the key and the way to peace and serenity. Amen.
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