“This is humility, the path of humility: to feel so marginalized that we need the Salvation of the Lord. He alone saves us, not our observance of the law.”

Pope Francis

I have been contemplating all week on a theme that I should have for this year. I don’t know why I feel the need to have a theme for this year, but I am trying something new. So, while at Mass yesterday, I asked God to just send me one word to help me focus on this year. Something that I sometimes lack, or something that I can meditate on throughout the year. Well, last night, as with all prayers that I have asked for in my life, God said, be humble.

Those of you who know me well, you all know that I am not one that will take credit for anything that I do. I do not crave a spotlight to be under, and I am much better in a supporting role. So, why would God want me to meditate on being humble. For the life of me, I have not figured this one out yet. So, challenge accepted. This year, is going to be all about humility.

With that, I figured it was appropriate to start off with a quote from Pope Francis. This is from his Homily on March 24, 2014. It stood out to me. Something about making ourselves marginalized to need salvation caught me. It resonated with me, because there have been multiple times in my life where I have thought that I do not need any help at all. I did not need to bring things to God, because I was navigating this world just fine on my own. What a foolish thought that I did not need to bring everything to God, even if things were going in the right direction. It is so easy to get caught up in the business of the world and cast aside any signs of divinity in our lives. It takes a humbling of yourself, even when you are riding the good times in life, to ensure that you still give thanks to God the Father, and still know you need help in life.

I am by no means a perfect Christian. I am an even worse Catholic. In good times and bad times, I have to remember that I need the Lord’s Salvation. I can not do this by myself.