I have seen two key attributes separate great men from mediocre men: Humility and Purity. It is not a loud or forceful separation but a gentle one. There is a great gap between a humble and pure man and a man who lacks these qualities. No one can teach us, model this, and give this better than Jesus Himself. Let’s specifically look at humility. “Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3). St. Paul shows us in Philippians 2 how Jesus is the model of humility for us all and invites us to have a mind focused on the lowliness of Jesus. (see Philippians 2:5).
Jesus, from the moment of the Annunciation, became lowly, coming down from Heaven. He, “emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:7). He came down low to earth to lift us up to the Father in Heaven. As God, He was perfectly fine remaining in Heaven forever, but He decided to take on a human nature forever. Jesus still has a human nature now in Heaven and will forever. He did this for us.
When Jesus was born, animals and lowly shepherds greeted Him. His family was poor and they had to escape persecution from Herod. He could have started His ministry sooner, yet He was obedient to His parents and remained at home for thirty years. “For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or comeliness that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.” (Isaiah 53:2). Thirty years is not a short stretch of time.
During the Last Supper, Jesus went to His apostles and friends and washed their feet. “Do you know what I have done to you?” (John 13:12). He continues to get lower and lower.
Jesus, desiring to free humanity from being bound by sin, allows Himself to be bound, chained, and taken away.
The God who’s thought keeps us in existence and the God who knew us before we were formed took a crown of thorns on His head.
Jesus became disfigured and marred so that we may be recognized as and become Sons of God. His head was bowed so that we may have confidence before the throne of God.
The God who formed us with His hands allowed His hands to be bound and nailed by those who He made.
Jesus’ Passion best displays His humility. It was not His human desire to carry the Cross, but He accepted the will of the Father (Luke 22:42). “He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” (Isaiah 53:3). He took His Cross for us, even though it was not necessary. God did not have to save us but He chose to. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5).
“He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8). Jesus accepted the wooden Cross, the most violent and humiliating form of death. Publicly, He was mocked, spat on, laughed at, and stripped naked for all to see. He was hung on the Cross along with two thieves in a trash pit. This is our God.
Even now, Jesus remains humble. He gave us Himself in the Eucharist. The God of the universe who supplies us with every need is found in the appearance of bread and wine. He allows and desires for Himself to be consumed so that He may come close to us.
Men, may Jesus be your model for humility. Accept the Crosses that God gives. Regard others as better than Yourself. Get low and wash feet. Look to the Crucifixes in your Church, home, or office daily. He is our model.
“He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:11-12)
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