Humiliation can be seen as a great gift but I've never heard it in a sermon or homily

  • Thread starter Thread starter Victoria33
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
V

Victoria33

Guest
Sirach 2: 5

For gold and silver are tried in the fire, but acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation.
Click to expand...
I sometimes see “acceptable” as being the “chosen”.

In parts, the Bible and teaching does make it clear, being humiliated is good, WHEN one is humiliated because they are for Christ and that is probably the essence of it… but I also seem to think, if one is just humiliated in other ways, one might be able to accept it as a trial and for the glory of God. (No, if your favorite NFL team loses a playoff game, 39-0, that is not the kind of humiliation I am thinking of).

And that is where, we seem to have a short fuse at being humiliated. “Don’t make ME look bad.”

I think I’ve even read in books where they call “humiliation” a great gift from God, I have rarely if ever heard it in a sermon and of course, we should not forget, the opposite of “humiliation” might be something like being “vain”, “don’t rain on my parade”, yet, it can be that humiliation that will make us more humble.

I wrote it, this has really been in my conscience for 12 years or so. If we are humiliated, then, we might relay it to how Christ was humiliated in His treatment during the passion.

It crosses my mind that in today’s world we hear a lot about bullying, I do wonder if bullying someone is often, nothing less that just humiliating someone.
 
Last edited:
Humiliation is not a gift.
What the Lord can do in us when we accept the trial of humiliation and remain faithful to the ways of God is the gift.
Why do I say that? Because we know Our Lord does not need some bully to come along and humiliate us in order to accomplish that same work.
This is why the virtue you hear preached is humility. When that virtue has become strong in a person, neither humiliation nor flattery is any match for their virtue, which is to say for their preference to glorify God in all things.
 
No body was saying a bully was humiliation; but they may humiliate others.

Christ was humiliated, with the crown of thorns and in other ways he was treated.
 
  • [2:1–11] Serving the Lord is not without its trials (v. 1); but no matter what happens, the genuine believer will remain sincere, steadfast, and faithful (vv. 2–3). Misfortune and humiliation are means of purification to prove one’s worth (vv. 4–5). Ben Sira believed that patience and unwavering trust in God are ultimately rewarded with the benefits of God’s mercy and of lasting joy (vv. 6–11).
    Sirach, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB
5For in fire gold is tested,

and the chosen, in the crucible of humiliation.b
Click to expand...
I do think, yes, Jesus suffered on the cross and on the way to Calvary.

In a sense, yes, we can offer these sufferings up, carry our own crosses, philosophically, it’s a bit of a blessing if one doesn’t want to call it a gift.

It is a gift if we can prove our love for Jesus, carry our crosses as he did.

I thought we are told, these trials are sent our way, for us to demonstrate our faith in God.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top