The Power of Humility (Part 1)

Through the Incarnation, when the Word of God was made flesh, we see the power of humility.  Paul writes, “but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men”. (Philippians 2:7)  By this manifestation of humility, the Incarnation forever dignified the form of humankind.  Jesus by joining humanity lifted the status of personhood, life itself.  Mary, in her “Fiat”, showed complete subordination of her self to the words of the Angel, Gabriel.  Mary’s Fiat is, “and Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word”.  (Luke 1:38) With these, words Mary became part of the plan of Salvation.  She continues her humility through the following “Magnificat”.  In her Fiat, she offers us a true faithful response to the call of God.

Humility is the sign of true power. It is a spiritual strength, the power of Love, which consists in freely bowing down before the lowest. The Incarnation is the eternal humility of God.  He was born to reveal what God’s power consists of: to serve the littlest ones. All other forms of power prevent a true relationship of love with God.

Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant, embodying the Ark which contained the Commandments of the Mosaic Covenant. She received the one who unites Heaven and earth. Pope Benedict XVI, when speaking in the Presentation of Jesus, said the narrated event in Luke 2:22-40 with the exchange between Simeon and Mary; “This is the meeting point of the two Testaments, Old and New.  Jesus enters the ancient temple; He who is the new Temple of God: he comes to visit his people, thus bringing to fulfillment obedience to the Law and ushering in the last times of salvation”.

She carried Him who carries everything. "She gives to the world the one who gives Life in abundance.”  Thus, Mary is the model of perfect receptivity and total gift. She gives back entirely the one she receives from God: Jesus Christ. She helps us to become, in our turn, an Ark of the covenant, a monstrance, and a grain of wheat. 

Mary's children are protected by God and by Mary herself. Defeated in the great battle with St. Michael, Satan is cast down to earth with his demons. In his plan, God wants people to participate in Christ's victory over the devil. "They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony": each time the Eucharist is celebrated and adored; the precious blood of the Lamb is poured out on the children of Mary.

We see the vastness of humility in the way Christ emptied Himself.  We see a human detail of humility in the words of the humble girl, Mary.  Yet, this stunning contrast between vast and singular, infinite and finite, God and humankind merge to give birth to Our Lord, Christ Jesus.  Jesus embodied, taught, and personified the power of humility.