Humility is a tribe of joy

To show that big things are born from small ones.
When I was probably a sophomore at the elementary school, the educator from the group took us on a walk to the park. It was late autumn, and the dry weather was getting to each of us under the nails. We stopped then at a large, huge chestnut tree. For such a man, as I was, it was a huge tree. There were still a few chestnut seeds around him. You know, so big. They have already been peeled off, and some have been cracked. And inside them, as we explained to our lady educator, there was the same big tree like the one under which we are
have become. He was still hidden, that only those who understood that great things were always born new there. Of the small, inconspicuous ones… Our educator understood it.

Today’s readings are witnesses to this truth. The motif of the first reading and the psalm culminates in praise of the Virgin Mary: “… he looked upon his humiliation maidservant … all generations shall bless me … for he hath done me great things, which is powerful … ”(Luke 1: 48-49). For the last few days, we have seen in the Scriptures what happened to Mary. At first glance, it could be said that a great, except one, is starting for Mary’s life. She is addressed by the Creator, the supreme power that exists, and she is invited to cooperate. Moreover, as the only one in the whole universe, Mary can conceive and give birth to God, so it is something incredible. So one could expect that Mary would be well taken care of. The mother of the king, after all, he deserves only the best: … a luxurious dress, a great palace, servants and great food, lots of fun, and select company.

We already know Maria’s life in part. Did Mary, Mother of the King, get all this? Did King Jesus grow up in luxury and comfort? Maria wore a lavish dress and used to live in the palaces? No, her daily reality was work, simple clothes, a simple meal, a poor house, and society; we were their poor and sin. What great things has one who is powerful done? He has done what he has been doing since the creation of the world. He hid in a small seed, put a great miracle. Mary’s humiliation, little life put in the redemption of the whole world. He put a big tree in the small seed. And the sooner we understand this principle of God’s action, the sooner we will feel happy.

For God, there is no term “little man” or “great man.” The life of Mary
and Jesus showed us very clearly that what is small for us can be infinitely great and important for the whole universe. Big things are always born of small, inconspicuous ones. Thus, humility is the mother of all virtues. It develops and grows other activities, just as our big and bushy tree grows from the root. Therefore, King Jesus, all his life lingered in poverty and simplicity.