Be Small

When pride comes, disgrace comes;

but with the humble is wisdom – Proverbs 11:2

There is nothing so small as a child in the womb and a newborn child. A newborn child doesn’t know the world yet. They are completely helpless and all control is placed in another’s hands.

This is how Our God chose to come into the world. Entrusted by the Father to St. Joseph and our Blessed Mother Mary. Humbling himself to be the smallest of the small.

This kind of humility is what is needed in the world. I have said before that Pride blinds truth, but humility reveals it. Our Blessed Mother was another great example of humility, accepting what the Father sent to her, even though it could have put her in great peril.

It is for this reason that I pray the Litany of Humility. I have really strongly disliked this prayer, it is hard to say. I have struggled with it, but I pray it because I do believe if each of us was a little more humble the world would be a lot better. I do feel with humility wisdom comes.

As I was praying it the other day, struggling through it, I felt in my heart the Lord answer me back after the second line I said, and in my heart He continued answering. These are the words that popped into my head after each line of the Litany;

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart. Hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed deliver me.

From the desire of being loved, deliver me.

because I love you and my love sustains, no one loves you more than I.

From the desire of being extolled, deliver me.

because it is I who will lift you up.

From the desire of being honored, deliver me.

because true honor comes in following me.

From the desire of being praised, deliver me.

because you will one day sing praise in heaven.

From the desire of being preferred to others, deliver me .

because it is enough that it was not you who chose me, but I who chose you.

From the desire of being consulted, deliver me.

because all decisions you make should be brought to me first.

From the desire of being approved, deliver me.

because before you were formed in the womb, I knew you, you need no other approval.

From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me.

because it is in humility that you find me.

From the fear of being despised, deliver me.

because I will never despise you, I created you, I love you.

From the fear of suffering rebukes, deliver me.

because repentance is often found in rebuke.

From the fear of being calumniated, deliver me.

because in me you find the Truth.

From the fear of being forgotten, deliver me.

because I will never leave you or forsake you.

From the fear of being ridiculed, deliver me.

because you can share in my suffering.

From the fear of being wronged, deliver me.

because I am the way.

From the fear of being suspected, deliver me.

because I am the Life.

That others may be loved more than I, Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.

because I love you more than you can ever know and I have that love for everyone.

That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.

because in being small you will be greatly blessed.

That in the opinion of the world others may increase and I may decrease, Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.

because the opinion of the world is not what matters, good and faithful servant.

That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.

because you will be set aside for my heavenly kingdom.

That others may be praised and I unnoticed, Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.

because in you I will increase.

That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.

because you KNOW ME, you will be exactly where you are supposed to be.

That others may be holier than I provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.

because my command is to make disciples of all nations so that all may know my saving power.

Amen.

Let us now remember to humble ourselves like a small child, and let Christ increase in us. God Bless you all.