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God has a special place in his heart for the lowly and the humble.

The prophet Zephaniah makes mention of this all-important virtue three times in the passage chosen for our first reading today: “Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth, who have observed his law; seek justice, seek humility… But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of the Lord.” The prophet reminds us that humility is a grace that we must seek. Humility is a quality of the soul that we must desire a reality that we can grow into. It is a condition of the heart, not simply a physical reality.

Jesus proclaims the lowly and the humble to be greatly blessed in our Gospel today. He uses a different phrase, however, to describe them, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The “poor in spirit” are those who seek the grace to be lowly and humble. What does this mean in practical terms?

The poor in spirit are those who are artfully and purposefully aware of the goodness and generosity of our heavenly Father. They grasp at the core of their being that everything good comes from the hand of God. Every good person, thing or event is a gift that comes to us from a God who has created us in love, holds us in being at every single moment of our existence, and takes great pleasure in bestowing blessings upon his beloved children. The poor in spirit live with a deep sense of their dependence upon a loving God who is near and who is attentive. The poor in spirit “take refuge in the name of the Lord.”

It is true that our heavenly Father is willing to discipline us. It is true that God loves us just the way we are, but that he never wants to leave us there. God our Father wants us to grow in holiness and become more like his Son. The Father wants to purify our hearts of the stains of selfishness, greed and hatred. His mercy heals and transforms us over time. “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13) God has made us in his image and likeness and, consequently, we will be happiest and most fulfilled when we become more Christ-like. This demands a conversion of both heart and mind. It demands breaking through our pride, which is a ball and chain that we drag around and drives us to focus on ourselves rather than to generously and sacrificially make a gift of ourselves to others in imitation of God. This purification process can be painful and can take more time that we would like. To be humble is to embrace that process and persevere in allowing God to shape our minds and hearts with his truth and love.

Isn’t it a blessing when you run into someone who is truly humble? Encountering them is wonderfully refreshing and renewing. They are so focused on God and others and not on themselves. Gratitude exudes from their pores. They have no desire to be at the heart of a conversation or the center of attention at an event. They want the light to shine on God and on others. They are willing to give without counting the cost. They are willing to do those things no one else wants to do. They are even willing to do those things that they personally dislike if it is asked in obedience, can help someone in great need, or is necessary for an important work of God.

When you think of humility, who do you think of? Thank God for that person. Thank God some more. Ask God to shave away your pride and fill you with the grace to be poor in spirit.