With Opened Bible
Seek the LORD , all you humble of the earth
“Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth,
who have observed his law; seek justice, seek humility; perhaps you may be sheltered
on the day of the LORD's anger.” (Zephanaiah 2,3)
In a world subjected to cultural paganism, hatred, pride, and indifference, the message of the prophet Zephaniah comes to awaken us from our spiritual slumber: "Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth, who have observed his law; seek justice, seek humility; per-haps you may be sheltered on the day of the LORD's anger." Humility and justice go hand in hand in his message. Why? Because the righteous, the faithful, and submissive believer lives and acts with humility. But what is humility?
According to Scripture, humility is that grace that allows us to make room for God even when we have the power to do everything. It is humbling ourselves before His power and glory. Jesus teaches us humility by becoming humble and submissive himself: "I am gentle and humble in heart." (Matthew 11:29) By becoming Man in the womb of the Virgin, he humbled himself (kenosis in Greek) by taking on the condition of a slave and accepted death on the cross. (Cf. Philippians 2:7-8) Thus, he became for all who believe in him: a source of justice and joy. This should reassure us that humility is a path to peace and divine favor.
Saint James, who lived humility by imitating his Lord, encourages us to be humble and submissive to inherit the Kingdom: "Submit your-selves, then, to God." (James 4:7) This biblical call to humility serves as a reminder for believers to embrace humility actively as a path to spiritual growth and salvation.
Long before the coming of Christ, Moses denounced the proud behavior of Pharaoh: "Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews: How long will you refuse to submit to me?" (Exodus 10:3) Persisting in his pride and his refusal to humble himself, the King of Egypt brought God's wrath upon his people, who perished in the Red Sea. (Cf. Exodus 14,28)
Old Job, who lost everything, accepted this grace of humility. He held onto it until the very end, knowing that his victory depended on it. "He raises the humble and delivers the afflicted." (Job 5:1) This is what the Virgin of Nazareth, wife and mother of God, echoed in her canticle of thanksgiving: "He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly." (Luke 1:52) Indeed, being humble opens the way to salvation; "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5)
