Monday, August 8 (July 26), 2022

1Cor. 11:31-12:6; Mt. 18:1-11

“Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” [Mt. 18:3].  Children’s heart is perfect.  A child, unless plagued by selfishness, is a great example for the adults to follow. 

Which qualities do we find in a child?  Solid, confident faith; amenable obedience; sincere love; peace of mind under parental protection; fresh, lively senses; mobility of mind and desire of knowledge and perfection.  But the Savior singled out one particular feature of a child: humility.  “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” [Mt. 18:4].

If genuine humility is present in a human heart, then all other virtues are also present.  By its very nature, humility develops last, when other virtues are already in blossom and bear fruit: humility is the crown of virtues.  This is a mystery of the spiritual life in Jesus Christ our Lord: the higher we reach, the lower our self-esteem falls.  In other words, our humility deepens with our spiritual growth. We see ever more clearly that our own achievements are nothing: it is the grace of God that works in us, “the stature of the fullness of Christ” [Eph. 4:13], for Christ Himself has “humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death” [Phil. 2:8].