This document provides the text from a talk on the character of humility given at a Christian Character Weekend. The summary discusses: 1) The talk aims to communicate the meaning of true Christian humility, help participants see themselves as God's children, and inspire a posture of gratitude and humility. 2) True humility involves recognizing one's worth in God's eyes and serving others, with Jesus as the ultimate example through his servant hood, suffering, and sacrifice. 3) The talk encourages allowing God to form one's character by doing God's will despite obstacles, and trusting that God has plans for us and will sustain us.

1. April 13, 2013
Christian Character Weekend:
Talk #1:
The Character of Humility

2.  1. Communicate the meaning of true Christian humility
 2. Help participants see themselves as God’s
children, blessed to bless others
 3. Inspire participants to take on a grateful posture of
humility
 True humility lies in recognizing my worth in the eyes of the
Lord and putting myself at the service of others.
 I have my greatest example of humility in Jesus, who
through His perfect example of servant hood and suffering
and dying on the cross, has redeemed all mankind.

3. OUR WILL
UNION
GOD’s WILL

4.  To allow GOD to form our CHARACTER.
 Obstacles:
1. We think we know what’s best for us and we
are unwilling to trust God completely.
2. We find it hard to believe that God actually
has beautiful and grand plans for us.
3. We are afraid of what it will entail and how
our lives might turn out if we did so.

5.  Through humility...
 We might do the following:
1. Seek to do God’s will even if that may be
the more difficult path or “not according to
our plans.”
2. Believe that God has a plan for us despite
our unfaithfulness and sinfulness.
3. Trust that God will be with us to sustain us
through whatever difficulties we might
encounter when we choose to do His will.

6. Let’s begin…

7.  From Catholic Encyclopedia:
"A quality by which a person considering his own defects
has a lowly opinion of himself and willingly submits
himself to God and to others for God’s sake."
 DEATH is the last “humblest event” in our life.
 Spirit over flesh. “ Die now, death later.”

8.  Philippians 2:1-4
“If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in
love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and
mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the
same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. Do nothing out of
selfishness or out of vainglory; rather humbly regard others
as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for
his own interests, but [also] everyone for those of others.”
(NAB)

9. Humility is not:
 Denying the gifts and graces given to us by God
 Considering everyone better than yourself
 Having low self-esteem and feeling bad about yourself
The problem with this approach is:
A. You don’t actually believe yourself to be such a wretched
person.
B. You see people who are obviously not better than you.
C. You waste too much time comparing yourself with others.

10.  False humility may lead to emotional problems:
 lack of self-respect,
 lack of self-worth and
 lack of self-confidence
 Often this is the root of certain problems such as
weight problems (e.g., when anxious or sad, one
eats a lot), personality conflicts, sexual problems)

11. Some manifestations of the emotional problems:
a. aggressive striving for approval (“yes” even
overburdened)
b. depression; self-pity
c. defensiveness; difficulty in receiving correction
d. inability to receive praise and encouragement
e. self-condemnation

12. “Having a lowly opinion of self” means:
1. Acknowledging our own faults and weaknesses as well
as the gifts God has given us
2. Acknowledging that others are also blessed by God
with special gifts and talents
3. Considering others as more important than ourselves
4. Entrusting ourselves and our lives completely to
God who is greater than we are
5. Putting ourselves in the service of others to glorify God

13. “God loves and values us.
(Ephesians 1:4; Genesis 1:26; Psalms 8)
1. We are creatures created in God’s own
image and likeness.
2. We have been redeemed and made a part
of God’s people.
3. Each of us has gifts and abilities to be used
to serve God and brethren.

14. “God loves us no matter what...
1. We rely upon God for everything.
2. Only God’s resources of wisdom and power
can genuinely change lives.
3. Everything that we have is a gift from God.
True Christian humility asks that we put ourselves in the
service of others. It is to be at the disposal of our brothers
and sisters. Thus the truly humble man is one who is willing
to take the lowest position, that of a servant.

15. 1 Rivalry or selfishness - in Greek “eriqeia” (eritheia), is
self-seeking or selfish ambition. It is striving for position and
power with personal aggrandizement as a primary motive.
2  Conceit or empty glory - is the acting out of a desire for
one’s reputation so that others will admire, honor, and pay
attention.
1 Pride and ambition.
2  Insecurity and feelings of low self-worth

16. Acknowledge the problem1
Ask for forgiveness2
Accept the truth about ourselves3
Receive encouragement4
Be humble and Be patient5
Pray6

17. Who is Our Model?

18. Jesus Christ  30 years of OBEDIENCE
3 years of TEACHING
3 days of REDEEMING
Mama Mary  She preferred not in the scenes…
Last words… “Do whatever He says”
FOR
REFLECTION
COMPARISON
Disobedient ADAM
Proud EVE
TREE
Obedient JESUS
Humble MARY
CROSS

19. Jesus
CHRIST
Holy
SPIRIT
GOD
We unite ourselves with the Trinity
—that we may be Christ to others.

20. PRAYING THE ROSARY
is our sure way to MAMA MARY
MARY
Jesus Christ
God
Holy Spirit

21. 1. Am I more prone to think too highly of
myself or to degrade myself? How did I
come to consider myself this way? How
does this affect the way I relate with God
and with others?
2. What concrete steps can I take to make
myself available to serve my family and my
community?

22. START: APRIL 10
DATE OF CONSECRATION: MAY 13
Feast of Our Lady of Fatima
TOTAL CONSECRATION is a RENEWAL of our BAPTISM
By Total Consecration, I renew my baptism where I renounce Satan
and slavery to sin. I become a slave of love to Jesus thru Mary. I
allow the Holy Spirit to make me die to myself (forget myself) and
live only to make Jesus happy. I will live my Faith thru Love
because I will become an instrument to renew the face of the earth
into the Kingdom of God: the New Earth of Love Peace and Joy.
Will you join?

23. www.jhonsensales.com

24. "Do not be afraid to love the Blessed Virgin too much.
You can never love her enough. And Jesus will be very
happy, because the Blessed Virgin is His Mother."
- Saint Therese of Lisieux. (1873 - 1897) +++
" To go to Jesus through Mary is truly to honor Jesus
Christ. It indicates that we do not esteem ourselves
worthy of approaching His infinite holiness directly, that
we need Mary to be our Mediatrix with Him, our
Mediator."
- Saint Louis Marie de Montfort (1673 - 1716)

25. God LOVES You
No matter what!

26. Praise
GOD!
Thank you!
Love from Jesus, fill us!
Holy Spirit, guide us!
God the Father,
your will be done! AMEN