Article September 18, 1971 Issue

Humility Leads to the Kingdom

[Original in French]

MAURICE MOUSSET

In his Gospel, Matthew tells us that Christ Jesus calls to all those who are weary and heavy laden: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."^{Matt. 11:29;}

Most people think of humility in a rather derogatory way, considering it to be a manifestation of fear and weakness. Jesus, on the contrary, by a complete disregard of self and by his demonstrations of God's power to heal substantiated his understanding of his relation to God, his Father. We read his words in John's Gospel: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise."^{John 5:19;}

These words exactly define true Christian humility. By affirming this humility Jesus showed us that the source of his power, confidence, and selfless mastery of resentment was his expression by the law of reflection of all the qualities of the Christ. Several examples of remarkable humility under provocation are found also in the Old Testament. David, when he had Saul at his mercy, refused to strike him; he was so calm, so self–controlled, that he could resist the temptation to avenge himself and could see in Saul not just the enemy who was seeking to kill him but "the Lord's anointed."^{I Sam. 26:11;} Before returning home, Saul admitted his fault and blessed David.

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