There was an anchorite who was able to banish the demons; and he asked them, 'What makes you go away?' 'Is it fasting?' They replied, 'We do not eat or drink.' 'Is it vigils?' They replied, 'We do not sleep.' 'Is it separation from the world?' 'We live in the deserts.' 'What power sends you away then?' They said, 'Nothing can overcome us, but only humility.' 'Do you see how humility is victorious over the demons?'

This short story unravels the reality that humility is so powerful that it crushes demons! The Bible says that “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Pt 5, 5). And “every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Lk 14, 11). In his inspired Word, God showed us five facets of what humility is all about.

The humble person cultivates a submissive attitude to God in Christ. “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master” (Matt 10, 24). “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God” (1 Pet 5, 6).

The humble always undergoes the same treatment Jesus received. “If they have called the master of the house Belzebub, how much more will they malign those of his household” (Matt 10, 25). Hence, humility does not take revenge. A humble attitude is not one that is focused on its alleged rights. “Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps… When he suffered, he did not threaten; but he trusted to him who judges justly” (1 Pet 2, 21.23).

Humility stresses truth not to boost ego with control or with success in debate. Humility champions the truth through service to Christ and love to the adversary. “It [love] does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right” (1 Cor 13, 6). “What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light … do not fear” (Matt 10, 27-28). “For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake” (2 Cor 4, 5).

S/he who is humble depends on grace for all her/his knowing and believing. “What have you that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?” (1 Cor 4, 7). “Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (Jas 1, 21).

Finally, a humble person knows that s/he errs. Thus, s/he takes criticism seriously and learns from it. On the other hand s/he knows that God has made provision for human conviction and that he invites us to persuade other people. “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood” (1 Cor 13, 2). “A wise man listens to advice” (Prov 12, 15). “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Cor 5, 11).

St Augustine says: “Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance”.

Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap

San Gwann