I remember, back in school, writing autobiographies of animals was a popular assignment that we as students were required to submit in order to hone our literary skills. I, for one, would love such assignments as it would seldom require research and one could stretch one’s imagination and spin any story!!

 

Yet, if I were offered a choice of being born as any other species among God’s creation, I would gladly opt to be a human being again!! No matter how soft, cuddly, fuzzy, adorable or spectacular God’s fauna might be, I wouldn’t swap my human existence to roam like a quadruped or soar like a bird in the open skies. After all, aren’t we, humans among all of God’s creation; the only species formed in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:26), enlivened by his Spirit, endowed with supreme intelligence, a reasoning ability, creative imagination and unlimited potential to reach for the stars!!

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While reflecting smugly about my self-centered preferences, I couldn’t help being in awe of the free choice exercised by Jesus, our Lord and Savior. This beautiful universe was created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16- for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. Dwelling in the highest heavens, Jesus was basking in the warmth of His Father’s love as his only son and as the second person of the Blessed Trinity. At his father’s command, he divested himself entirely of all the heavenly glory and splendor and became one like us, as echoed by the words of this traditional Christmas carol - He left all his glory behind to be born and to die for mankind.

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In his boundless love for us, Jesus was willing to trade eternal bliss and take on the limitations of humanity in order to enable us to make our way back to His Father’s house. To accomplish this divine plan, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross (Philippians 2:7 -8).

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His humble birth in a musty cave on a cold, dreary night with a manger for a bed was just the beginning of a choice of humility and self-abasement. For the first thirty years of his life, his divinity remained totally hidden in the cloak of humility. Barring a few privileged souls, no one in the whole of Israel knew that the Messiah for whose coming they earnestly prayed for and the Emmanuel whom they longed to behold was growing up obscurely in their midst in the little-known town of Nazareth.

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Before he commenced his public ministry, he humbly submitted to the baptism of John (Matthew 3:13-15). Imparting valuable lessons in humility to his disciples and audience was a major theme of his teachings. In words, he exhorted them to imbibe poverty of spirit (Matthew 5:3), to be meek (Matthew 5:5), to become like little children (Matthew 18:3), not to clamor for positions of honor (Luke 14:10), to remember that first had to be the last (Mark 9:35) and to adopt the attitude of a servant (Matthew 20:27-28). Through the parable of the Pharisee and the Republican, he impressed upon them how pleasing, true humility was in the sight of God. (Luke 18:10-15).

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Always at loggerheads with the religious leaders and scholars of his day, Jesus constantly opposed their proud attitude and urged his disciples not to imitate their example (Matthew 23:3). He culminated his ministry with the humble act of washing the feet of his disciples on the eve of his passion and invited them to follow in his footsteps (John 13:1-17).

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If his earthly existence was marked by humility, his death was the climax of this divine trait when he accepted the humiliating death on the cross to redeem us from sin and death. Centuries ago, the Prophet Isaiah had foretold the meek and submissive attitude of the suffering servant who even though oppressed and afflicted, would not open his mouth and remain silent, like a lamb that is led to the slaughter and like a dumb sheep before its shearers. (Isaiah 53:7). Such was the humble life of our Blessed savior who became one like us in all things, except sin.

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The holy season of Advent and Christmas is a time set aside in the Church Calendar to contemplate the significance of his birth and to reflect on his humility, his sacrificial love and his complete obedience to his Father’s will. However, amidst the merriment and commercialization of our twenty-first century Christmas celebrations, this profound lesson in humility seems to have taken a back seat. On the contrary, the Christmas culture of our times reeks of competitions, excesses and styles so alien to Jesus’ command and his example of humility. ‘Shopping and partying’ is what defines Christmas for quite a few Christians. For some, it is only about the paraphernalia of the season, putting up Christmas trees, adornments, decorations, cakes and confectioneries.

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Let us however as disciples of Christ, refrain from making Christmas a superficial celebration limiting our focus only on the externals. Instead, let us rise above these secular Christmas trends that seem to pervade our celebrations and shift our gaze on this precious gift- the Word made flesh (John 1:14) who made his dwelling among mankind. As children of the light (1 Thessalonians 5:5), let us joyfully participate in the festivities with a humble spirit of cooperation and not competition, with an attitude of thanksgiving and gratitude.

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During this sublime season of our Lord’s nativity, may we seek his grace to be humble in our dealings with one another; through a sincere examination of conscience, uproot any self-seeking or self-indulgent attitude that we may have cultivated over the years. May this simple prayer resound from our heart and lips as a fitting antiphon to the beauty of this season; "Jesus meek and humble of heart make our hearts like unto thine”. Amen.

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