Humility

In this spiritual sermon, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III speaks about humility as the foundation of the spiritual life and warns against pride, which can cause even the great saints to fall. He explains that pride often comes from divine gifts when a person forgets to thank God and attributes the glory to himself—turning blessings into causes of downfall.

🔹 The Root of the Fall: Pride
He teaches that the first to fall was Satan because of his arrogance, saying in his heart: “I will ascend into heaven and be like the Most High.” His fate was destruction. Thus, His Holiness warns: Before destruction comes pride, and before the fall, a haughty spirit.

🔹 Humility: The Foundation of All Virtues
Without humility, every virtue becomes empty and may lead to vain glory. But the humble person gains God’s gaze and care, as it is written: To whom will I look except to the one who is humble and contrite in spirit?

🔹 Biblical Examples of Humility and Pride

• The Pharisee and the Tax Collector: the proud man was rejected, but the humble man was justified.

• The Virgin Mary: though full of virtues, she was chosen because she said, “He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaiden.”

• Solomon the Wise: received divine wisdom but fell through pride.

• Job the Righteous: learned humility through trials and finally said, “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer You?”

🔹 Humility in Faith and Service
God works through the humble because they return all glory to Him, while He resists the proud. Humility in doctrine means not boasting of understanding or spiritual gifts but confessing, “We are unworthy servants.”

🔹 Fruits of Humility
The humble find inner peace, for Christ said, “Learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Humility lifts the person before God, while pride leads to ruin.

🔹 Core Message:
Humility is not weakness but a deep spiritual strength that opens the way to heaven. Pride drives away grace, but humility attracts it. As the Fathers said: He who humbles himself will be exalted, and he who exalts himself will be humbled.