Hello friends,
This is Mark Gleidman,
Also known as Brother Frederick James,
Your friendly neighbourhood monk in docks.
It is day 23 of our Advent journey towards the light.
And today we're reflecting on God's humility in us.
In the stillness of Advent,
We're invited to marvel at the humility of God.
The creator of the universe chose to enter the world,
Not as a ruler on a throne,
But as a child in a manger,
Vulnerable,
Unassuming,
Humble.
Now Paul writes about this whole event in his letter to the church in Philippi.
In Philippians 2,
He says in your relationships with one another have the same mindset as Christ Jesus,
Who being in very nature God,
Did not consider equality with God something to be used for his own advantage.
Rather,
He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant.
Humility isn't about weakness or self depreciation.
It's about strength,
Rooted in love,
A freedom that comes when we release the need to prove ourselves.
Paul Tillich,
The great theologian,
Called humility,
Quote,
The state of being freed from the need to prove oneself,
End quote.
Let me say that again,
Because that's incredibly powerful.
And maybe this is one of your takeaways today.
Humility is the state of being freed from the need to prove yourself.
That's powerful.
Humility is the ability to step back,
To listen,
To put others before ourselves,
Not because we're less,
But because we see others as equally loved and equally valued by God.
Think about your own relationships.
How often do pride or the need to be right create barriers to connection?
Humility doesn't demand that we diminish ourselves.
Instead,
It invites us to lift others up.
It opens the door to deeper understanding,
To reconciliation,
And to love that reflects the very heart of God.
How can you embody Christ's humility in your relationships today?
Maybe it's offering a heartfelt apology,
Even when it's hard.
Perhaps it's listening without interrupting or letting someone else's needs take precedence.
These small acts of humility mirror the self-giving love of Christ and create space for God's grace to work in us and through us and between us.
And so today,
May you find freedom in letting go of pride and the need to prove yourself.
May you approach your relationships with the same humility that Christ showed to us.
May you listen with an open heart,
Speak with kindness,
And act with selflessness.
May humility become a doorway to deeper connection,
Reconciliation,
And joy.
As you carry this spirit of humility into your day,
Remember that God's light shines brightest in the places where we choose vulnerability,
Grace,
And love.
Let Christ's humility inspire your own and let your life reflect the gentle strength of Emmanuel,
God with us.
Go in peace,
My friend.
Have a wonderful day.
