Fr. Eric Nicolai preaches about the virtue of humility at Ernescliff College. 

Lk 4, 16-30 The account of Jesus in Nazareth reading in the synagogue.

"The spirit of the Lord is upon me...." The Fathers of the Church see this verse as a reference to the three Persons of the Holy Trinity: the Spirit (the Holy Spirit) of the Lord (the Father) is upon me (the Son): (cf. Origen, Homily 32).

Jesus read the passage from Isaiah 61:1-2 where the prophet announces the coming of the Lord, who will free his people of their afflictions. In Christ this prophecy finds its fulfilment, for he is the Anointed, the Messiah whom God has sent to his people in their tribulation. Jesus has been anointed by the Holy Spirit for the mission the Father has entrusted to him. These phrases, according to Luke (vv. 18-19), are his first messianic declaration. But many did not believe him. But they were very superficial; in their narrow-minded pride they felt hurt that Jesus, their fellow-townsman, had not worked in Nazareth the wonders he had worked elsewhere. They presume they have a special entitlement and they insolently demand that he perform miracles to satisfy their vanity, not to change their hearts.

What is the best recipe to arrive at real humility?

Music: Andrian Berenguer, Fall, album Singularity (2017)

Thumbnail: James Tissot (1836-1902), Jesus Unrolls the Book in the Synagogue 1886-1894. Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper Brooklyn Museum.