The biblical virtue of humility often gets mistranslated in our world. Many think of humility as ongoing self-effacement or even self-degradation. Humility, as the scriptures use it, is a sense of true self-awareness, of one's capacities and abilities. A false humility is actually a kind of deceit, and is often a mask for the face of arrogance that lies beneath it. Thus Sirach today tells us not to seek what is too sublime for us, or to search out what is beyond our strength. We are called to have an awareness of what we are able to grasp, and with what we are strong enough to contend. Scriptural humility also has about it an openness to the goodness of others and what is best in them. That is why both Sirach and Luke's Jesus instruct us not to deny our own self-worth, but to be ready to elevate and acclaim what is good or great in others. When we live this way, we are closer to understanding how God views all of us. We ought not place ourselves, but others, first. In living this humble way, we are living out of the heart of God, who is always ready to raise us up in honor at the table of the heavenly banquet.
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