The following reflection is from “Praying with Vincent de Paul” by Thomas McKenna, C.M., (2011). pp. 35-37, Meditation 9.

REFLECTION

God loves a cheerful giver, but God also loves a thankful receiver. At the core of humility is a profound sense that God has given us everything that is good. Humility allows us to see all as gift. So we rejoice, not in our own doing, but in God’s bounty. For instance, Mary sang with her whole being in appreciation to God because of what the saving God did for her. She glories in her reliance on God. Her proclaimed “lowliness” does not cancel out her worth at all. Rather, she celebrates that God loves and blesses her as she is– a simple human being undeserving of such tremendous love. Humility and thankfulness move in tandem.

Vincent learned humility from the poor people that he served. In their own lowliness, many of them had discovered Mary’s gratitude. Unlike people of plenty, poor people experienced raw, immediate need. They knew what it meant to receive their daily bread. Some turned bitter, but others gave thanks and blessings. Out of the sharpness of their need, they grew thankful for God’s often ignored wonders: a crust of bread, clean water, perhaps an apple. The gratefulness of poor people served as a constant reminder to Vincent that even the simple gifts are still gifts from the God who loves us.

Meditatively read the “God’s Word” section of this meditation. Consider what a wonderful blessing it is that God became a human being just like you. Then ponder what your crosses are and will be– the crosses you carry for love. Thank God for your humanity and for the crosses carried in obedience to the call to love.

GOD’S WORD

Make your own the mind of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God,
did not count equality with God
something to be grasped.

But he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
becoming as human beings are;
and being in every way like a human being,
he was humbler yet,
even to accepting death, death on a cross.

And for this God raised him high,
and gave him the name
which is above all other names.
(Philippians 2:5-9)

CLOSING PRAYER:

O Blessed Virgin Mary,

in your Magnificat you stated
that Almighty God had done great things for you
because of your humility
on which he had looked with favor.

True practice of humility

is in obedience to God’s will.

My Lord and my Savior,

with all the tenderness of my love for you
I humbly ask you for that virtue.

Holy Virgin,

help me obtain that grace from your Son;
I hope that, through your intercession,
I may always have the sincere desire
to be outstanding in my humble obedience to God’s will
as you always were.