Daily Office for 12/01/2010:  OT Reading – Isaiah 2:1-11

The beginning of the second chapter of Isaiah, which we hear this morning, is calling out the new world that is to come – a world of love and justice; a world where there is no more war or hatred. Likely, we feel far removed from this world and Isaiah reminds us that we have forsaken the ways of God and are indeed far removed from God’s world of love and justice. With vivid and compelling words, Isaiah describes the current state of affairs and provides us with an important insight toward the accomplishment of living in the peace of God’s presence – humility: “The haughty eyes of people shall be brought low, and the pride of everyone shall be humbled; and the LORD alone will be exulted in that day.” (Isaiah 2:11)

These early days of Advent have been shouting out “humility” from many sources. In addition to hearing the testimony of Isaiah, the reflection from “Watch for the Light” for Nov. 29 was entitled, “In Defense of Humility” by Bernard of Clairvaux. Bernard’s thoughtful essay begins by reflecting on Scripture, “The virtue of humility is always found closely associated with divine grace: ‘for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble’ (James 4:6).” Bernard then continues with a reflection on the humility of Mary upon hearing that she will become the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. “Mary then replies with humility, that the dwelling of grace may be prepared. How sublime is this humility, which is incapable of yielding to the weight of honors, or of being rendered proud by them! The mother of God is chosen, and she declares herself his handmaid. It is in truth a mark of no ordinary humility that even when so great an honor is given her, she does not forget to be humble. It is no great thing to be humble when in a low condition; but humility in one that is honored is a great and rare virtue.”

As we walk our Advent journey, we can look to Mary as an example of humility before others. Pride separates us from God and from others as we seek to build ourselves up; humility brings us together and builds up that which God seeks for us. As a parishioner recently reminded me after an early Sunday service, one of the most beautiful verses of Scripture is from the Book of Micah: “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8) Walk humbly through this season of Advent and know that God is with you.