Article April 29, 1939 Issue

Humility

JAMES K. WESTOVER

On the first page of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, says, "Humility is the stepping-stone to a higher recognition of Deity;" and on page 356 she emphasizes its importance, saying, "The second stage of mental development is humility." The need, then, of gaining true humility is apparent, and the student who sees this and proceeds to cultivate this quality from his earliest study of Christian Science, will have much to be thankful for as he advances. Thereby will be avoided much retracing of steps in his natural progress along the highway of right endeavor. They who may have neglected to acquire a true sense of humility, until weary experience forces it upon their attention, are alert to advise their children and friends of the desirability of the early cultivation of this necessary virtue.

Jesus' illuminating parable, to be found in the eighteenth chapter of Luke's Gospel, was addressed directly "unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others." He told them of two widely different individuals who went into the temple to pray. One of them, a Pharisee, extolled himself before God, thanking Him that he was not as other men, asserting his financial and ceremonial loyalty to the religious authorities of his day. The publican, without so much as lifting his eyes heavenward, implored God's mercy upon what he evidently considered his own unworthiness. Jesus then declared that the attitude of this man was justified rather than that of the Pharisee.

Another incident in the life of our Master, as recorded by Matthew, which exemplified true humility and earned his approval, occurred during his pilgrimage along the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite besought him to heal her lunatic daughter. Perhaps it was to test her faith and humility that he answered by telling her that he had been sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. When she continued to plead for help, he said, "It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs." That she could, without rancor, still continue to beseech his aid, satisfied him of her great faith and humility; and thereupon he answered her, "O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt." And her daughter was released from her difficulty at once.

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