From HATE to LOVE: A Journey of Humility

A reflection by Roger E. Miranday

The First Reading from Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 reminds me of the beauty and importance of living with humility. It teaches that the greater I become, the more  I must humble myself before God, for humility is the foundation of true wisdom and strength. This passage calls me to recognize that pride and self-centeredness only lead to downfall, while a humble heart finds favor with the Lord. My own experiences have shown me how fragile life can be, and how much I need humility to see beyond myself and return everything to God.

 

The Struggles of Humility (H.A.T.E.)

Humility is difficult for me because of the challenges I face in my attitudes and emotions. These can be summarized in the word H.A.T.E.

 

H – Humiliating others: Sometimes, I hurt people by putting them down to make myself feel better. Even when corrected, I find it difficult to admit that I am wrong.

 

A – Anger: When I am humiliated, I react immediately with anger. I hold grudges and find it hard to forgive, which only distances me from others.

 

T – Tactlessness: I often rely on my own thinking, believing that I am always right. This makes me insensitive to the feelings and suggestions of others.

 

E – Envy: I sometimes desire what others have, and  to the point that i forget to value the blessings of God has already given me.

 

These weaknesses make humility a constant struggle because they pull me towards pride and selfishness

 

One painful day, I saw my eldest brother fighting against his illness. I witnessed how much he struggled because he wanted to live for his children, who were still very young. I cried because I knew his desire to live was strong, but sadly, he passed away. That experience humbled me deeply. It made me realize that everything returns to God. It reminded me to live with humility and not to take life for granted.

 

The Power of Humility (L.O.V.E.)

As a young person, I believe humility builds strong relationships. It can be expressed in the word L.O.V.E.

 

L – Love: Because doing everything with love, even in small ways, helps me live with humility and connect meaningfully with others.

 

O – Openness: Because for me, openness means not only sharing myself with others but also embracing my own flaws and imperfections. And i believe it allows me to build stronger bonds with others.

 

 V – Valuing: Because learning to value even the smallest things helps me live with gratitude and nurture deeper relationships.

 

E – Equality: Because seeing everyone as equal, regardless of status or background, allows me to treat others with fairness and respect.

 

Through L.O.V.E., humility becomes a bridge that strengthens my connection with others and with God.

 

Through my experiences, I have learned that humility is not always easy to practice, but it is one of the most valuable virtues I can embrace. The loss of my brother made me realize how fragile life truly is, and that both material possessions and even our dearest relationships ultimately belong to God.

At the same time, I recognize the struggles within myself summarized in H.A.T.E. that make humility difficult to live out. Yet, by choosing L.O.V.E. every day, I now see that humility is the key to becoming a better person. In the end, humility teaches me to appreciate life, to respect others, and to live with a heart grounded in gratitude and love.