杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

杏MAP导航 Francis told believers that there is no true humility without humiliation.

The 杏MAP导航 was speaking during morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta on Monday as he reflected on the first liturgical reading of the day which speaks of the humiliation of King David.

杏MAP导航 Francis said David was indeed a great man: he had overcome Goliath, he had 鈥渁 noble soul鈥� because twice he could have killed Saul but he had not done so. But David, he continued, was also a sinner: he had committed the serious sins of adultery and had arranged the murder of Uriah, Bathsheba鈥檚 husband.

鈥淎nd yet, Francis noted, the Church venerates him as a saint" because he let himself be transformed by the Lord, he 鈥渁ccepted鈥� forgiveness, he repented and recognized himself as a sinner.

David is humiliated
 

The First Reading, the 杏MAP导航 said, focuses on the humiliation of David: his son Absalom revolts against him but at that moment David does not think of 鈥渟aving his own skin鈥� but of saving his people, the Temple and the Ark of the Covenant.

He flees, he explained, and his gesture that appears cowardly is really a courageous one: 鈥渉e wept without ceasing, his head was covered, and he was walking barefoot鈥�.

David lets himself be insulted
 

杏MAP导航 Francis noted that the great David is humiliated not only by defeat and by flight, but also by insult. In fact, during his escape, a man named Shimei 鈥渃ursed and threw stones at David鈥� telling him that the Lord had requited him and put the kingdom in the hands of his son Absalom.

Shimei, the 杏MAP导航 continued, tells David that he is now suffering ruin 鈥渂ecause he is a murderer" and David lets him continue to curse and insult him saying: 鈥淧erhaps the Lord will look upon my affliction and make it up to me with benefits for the curses he is uttering this day."

鈥淩eady-to-wear鈥� humility is not salvific
 

杏MAP导航 Francis noted that David鈥檚 ascent up the Mount of Olives is prophetic of Jesus鈥� climb up the hill of Calvary to give life: he too was insulted and discarded. This he explained refers precisely to the humility of Jesus:

鈥淪ometimes we think that humility is to go quietly, perhaps head-down looking at the floor鈥� but even pigs walk with their heads down: this is not humility. This is that fake, ready-to-wear humility, which neither saves nor guards the heart. We have to be aware that there is no true humility without humiliation, and if you are not able to tolerate, to carry humiliation on your shoulders, you are not truly humble: you pretend you are, but you are not鈥�.

Turning humiliation into hope
 

The 杏MAP导航 pointed out that both David and Jesus burden themselves with sins and said: 鈥淒avid is a saint, and Jesus, with the sanctity of God, is really a saint鈥� and they are both humiliated.

鈥淭here is always the temptation to counter slander and oppose anything that humiliates us or makes us feel ashamed - like Shimei. But David says 鈥淣o鈥�; the Lord says 鈥淣o鈥�, that is not the right path. The path is the one taken by Jesus and prophesied by David: bearing humiliation. 鈥楶erhaps the Lord will look upon my affliction and make it up to me with benefits for the curses he is uttering this day鈥�: turning humiliation into hope.

There is no humility without humiliation
 

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded warning that humility is not justifying oneself immediately in the face of an offense and trying to look good: 鈥渋f you are unable to bear humiliation, you are not humble鈥� he warned: 鈥渢his is the golden rule鈥�.

鈥淟et us ask the Lord for the grace of humility, with humiliations. There was a nun who used to say: 鈥榶es, I am humble, but never humiliated!鈥� No, no! There is no humility without humiliation. We are asking for this grace. And if someone is brave 鈥� just as as St. Ignatius teaches us - he can even ask the Lord to send humiliations so he can be more like the Lord鈥�.