A Man, His Wife and Their Newborn Baby Are the Essence of Humility

Imagine you are living in Nazareth 2,000 years ago. You awaken one morning and notice a man packing items on a donkey in preparation for a trip.  You go back inside and a bit later go out and see this fellow, with his pregnant teenage wife sitting on the back of the donkey, heading down the road. You run over and ask them where they are going. The man tells you that they are on their way to Bethlehem, the town of the man’s ancestors’ birth. They are complying with the law so that they are counted in the census.

You watch them leave and shake your head. Bethlehem is at least an 80 mile trek over rough terrain. The journey will take three to five days. The woman is expecting her child any day. You think to yourself, “They will never make it.” As they disappear over the hill, you believe you will never see them again.

Salvation and Hope

Isn’t God amazing in the way He does things? This is the story of our Salvation and the rebirth of hope. This Salvation became available to all people for all time.  The redemption of humanity was entrusted to a man and woman whose humility and love of God enabled them to conquer the seemingly impossible.

Guided by the Holy Spirit, they united in marriage. Then they took on the world. They traveled to Bethlehem while Mary was full term.  Mary rode on the back of a donkey. Joseph walked, guiding the donkey.

In Bethlehem Mary gave birth in a cave surrounded by smelly animals and filth. Then the couple watched and marveled as poor shepherds, and rich kings worshiped their child side by side.

They managed to escape the soldiers of King Herod, who were trying to kill their newborn Son.  Imagine the fear in Joseph as he wondered how he could protect his little family from the forces of evil. And, lest we forget, he also got them safely to Egypt, about three hundred miles away. He must have been some man. We know the rest of the story.

What about the lives of Joseph and Mary?

We know so little about Joseph and Mary’s lives, yet they are an integral part of the Salvation story.  Mary’s acceptance of a pregnancy that might have resulted in her being stoned to death as an adulteress was an act of monumental humility. Joseph, “a righteous man” true to the law, accepted a pregnant woman as his wife – another act of extreme humility. (Imagine how much he must have loved this young woman.)

Completing this humble family was none other than God Himself. The Creator of all that is became like one of His creations. He could have come majestically, surrounded by armies and servants and glitter and pomp. He chose to come to us in the womb of his Mom, just like all of us. He allowed Himself to be born among animals in a cave. As He began His earthly life, He was wrapped in ordinary cloth and placed on straw. Why would He do it this way? Because he represents the perfection of humility.

He did it to show us goodness, love, and how to give those things from within ourselves.  I think, too, He did it to save us from Satan’s favorite tool, Pride, which had brought down Adam and Eve. The Holy Family was and still is, the complete and perfect embodiment of Humility. It remains so to this very day. Of course, the antidote to Pride is Humility.

If you take a moment to ponder all that happened and how it happened, and why it happened, it will leave you breathless. And then we remember it was all done for all of us. There was nothing done for themselves, not one thing. We need to get back to what “family” is, and the Holy Family is the model to build on.

Mother, Father, and Son – An Image of the Trinity

We must never forget that it was the husband and father who protected his wife and Son from the world’s evils trying to destroy his family. The Son humbled Himself and gave His life for us all.  And the Mom, our Mom too, the most humble of all women ever, stands vigilant and ready to crush the head of the evil serpent that might harm any of her children. In so doing, she is protecting all of us for all eternity. She is our protection against all wickedness. We ask her to cover us with her impenetrable shield.

Fittingly, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family on the Sunday following Christmas. There are millions of folks who never pay an iota of attention to this family. Maybe it is time that they should, for this is the family that “set the bar” for all families for all time.

The Salvation story comprises the most extraordinary acts of human love, goodness, and humility ever. Mary, Joseph, and their son, Jesus, encompassed by unconditional love for God and each other, offer that love to us.  This earthly image of the Holy Trinity has shown us the way.

How can anyone NOT Love Christmas?

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Cardinal Merry del Val was Pope St. Pius X secretary of state. He was born into wealth and nobility, while the great St.Pius X was born into poverty. Together they made a great team. Cardinal del Val was a very humble man.  Among his great works is the Litany of Humility, as shown here. He was accustomed to recite this prayer daily after the celebration of Holy Mass.

Litany of Humility

O Jesus meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver, me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being praised, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others, Deliver me Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being despised, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated, Deliver, me, Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected, Deliver me, Jesus.

That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.
That in the opinion of the world, others may increase, and I may decrease,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I become as holy as I should,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.