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March 16, 2022In today's Gospel, Christ speaks three times on how to be humble. First, he shares with his disciples that he will soon be mocked and scourged and crucified, even though he is the Messiah who has come to save them. Second, he tells the sons of Zebedee that they, too, will one day drink from the chalice of suffering just like him. Third, he teaches his disciples as a group that those who wish to be great must be servants, "for the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve." Each of these statements provide examples of how we should be humble, but also present the promises of Christ: that he will be raised on the third day, that the Father has prepared a place for those who suffer with Christ, and that those who serve others shall become great.
Christ’s humility began long before his Passion. It was first made known when God, who out of his own abundant goodness created the world, chose to enter his creation as a helpless child - the mystery we call the Incarnation. But why would the infinite God choose to bring himself down to the level of his creation? So that mankind could once again become partakers in the divine nature. As the priest prepares the chalice at Mass, he prays "By the mystery of the mingling of this water and wine, may we come to be sharers in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity." It is appropriate that he says this prayer as he pours the water, because it's by the waters of baptism that we are incorporated into the Body of Christ. As members of the Body, we are called to share fully in the life of Christ - in his joys, but also in his sufferings. And so, we are to participate in the humbling he endures for our sake.
Lent is a reminder of the virtue of humility. We take on penances, give alms to the poor, and pray so that we may grow in this virtue. These actions in and of themselves are good, but by uniting them with the suffering of Christ, we offer them up as a way of participating in Christ’s suffering. By allowing these penances to humble us, we more fully embrace our identity as members of the Body of Christ and, as the Father raised up Christ and glorified him, we can hope that we may one day be raised up to live fully with Christ in heaven.
