Journeying With Christ: The Coptic Month of Kiahk of the Nativity FastSample

Week 3 Theme: St. Mary’s visit to St. Elizabeth

Day 3: The Humility of St. Mary

As we journey with Christ, one virtue that stands out in the life of St. Mary is her profound humility. In today's reflection, we contemplate the significance of humility in our spiritual journey, drawing inspiration from the humility of St. Mary. St. Mary, despite being chosen to bear the Son of God, recognized her lowly state and humbly acknowledged God's favor upon her. The Early Church Father, St. Augustine, extols St. Mary as an example of humility and reminds us that God exalts the humble. Let us follow St. Mary's humble example, surrendering our pride and seeking to serve God and others with humility.

St. Mary's song of thanksgiving, the Magnificat, reveals her deep understanding of her own lowliness and God's greatness. She proclaims, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior" (Luke 1:46-47). St. Mary recognized that her role in God's plan was not a result of her own greatness but of God's grace and favor and she embraced her lowly state with humility and rejoiced in the opportunity to be part of God's redemptive work.

In our journey with Christ, humility plays a vital role. St. Augustine reminds us that humility is the foundation of all virtues, saying, "Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility" (Sermons on Gospel of St. Matthew). Humility enables us to acknowledge our dependence on God, recognize our limitations, and open ourselves to His transforming work in our lives. It allows us to surrender our own agenda and pride, making room for God's will to be fulfilled in and through us.

St. Mary's humility is not a sign of weakness but a source of strength and it is through her humility that she becomes a vessel for God's grace; she’s the mother of the King and the mother of God. St. Mary's humility enabled her to receive God's divine favor and participate in His plan of salvation. Similarly, when we embrace humility, we position ourselves to receive God's grace and be used by Him for His purposes.

Humility also fosters an attitude of service and love towards others. St. Mary's humble response to God's calling led her to serve and support her cousin St. Elizabeth during her own miraculous pregnancy. St. Mary's visit to St. Elizabeth was not just a physical encounter but a humble act of love and support, one not pressed upon her but done out of love and service. The mother of God should be served and yet we find her, in all humility, serving others in her pregnancy. In our journey with Christ, humility calls us to serve one another, to extend a helping hand to those in need, and to lift others up in their journey of faith.

As we reflect on the humility of St. Mary, let us strive to imitate her example. Let us recognize our own lowliness before God and surrender our pride and self-centeredness. Through humility, we position ourselves to receive God's grace, to serve others with love, and to be exalted by God in His perfect timing. May our journey with Christ be marked by humility, leading us deeper into His transformative presence and enabling us to be vessels of His love and grace in the world.