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Scripture~I Peter 5.5 (ESV)
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Wisdom Saying
The following is from the Rule of St. Benedict, chapter 7.62-66, "On Humility," and is the last of twelve degrees of Christian humility.
The twelfth degree of humility is, when a monk is not only humble of heart, but always letteth it appear also in his whole exterior to all that see him; namely, at the Work of God, in the garden, on a journey, in the field, or wherever he may be, sitting, walking, or standing, let him always have his head bowed down, his eyes fixed on the ground, ever holding himself guilty of his sins, thinking that he is already standing before the dread judgment seat of God, and always saying to himself in his heart what the publican in the Gospel said, with his eyes fixed on the ground: "Lord, I am a sinner and not worthy to lift up mine eyes to heaven" (Lk 18:13); and again with the Prophet: "I am bowed down and humbled exceedingly" (Ps 37[38]:7-9; Ps 118[119]:107).
*The Holy Rule of St. Benedict," 1949 Edition, Trans. by Rev. Boniface Verheyen, OSB.
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Comments
St. Benedict integrates the inwardness and outwardness of Christ-like humility. Remember, Jesus speaks to all: Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matt 11.29, ESV).
And the following, from Matthew 21.5 (ESV), shows the meekness of the Christ King riding into Jerusalem before the Passion:
"Say to the daughter of Zion,
'Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'"
We are to be "humble of heart," following the example of Jesus Christ. We cannot be outwardly humble, indeed, without the Inner Spring of Christian lowliness. And only the Spirit of Meekness Herself, the Holy Spirit, or Spirit of Christ, forms this splendor of humbleness within. Self-efforts will only fashion a deceiving, pitiable caricature of true Christ-like meekness: this caricature is likely to deceive us, while not deceiving others.
This humbleness inwardly is to be practiced outwardly. St. Benedict speaks to the monks of evidencing meekness in their over-all physical deportment: "sitting, walking, or standing." The contemplative is to be as exteriorly meek in the workplace as in the worship place.
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