Humility calls for obedience as well as compassion. The purest discipline grows from Love.
The human spirit is strong. The human ego can often be stronger.
Why is humility so important to the quality of human life?
As part of an obedience ritual, 4th century monk Abba John was ordered to water a dry stick each day. He did this for three years, hauling water a long distance from an oasis in the desert in order to obey his instruction.
At the end of three years, the stick miraculously blossomed. The monk's spiritual father showed the blossoms to the other monks: "Behold, the fruit of obedience," he told them.
If the stick had never born fruit the story would still be important. True humility expects no reward.
Pope Francis exhibits a Christ-like humility. In his first months he has done some "shocking" things: embraced horribly deformed people, washed the feet of prisoners, hugged disturbed children. We expect this from important clerics and often do not see it. Consider how hard it is to look at the deformed man (below) much less to wrap your arms around him.
What does this mean for us? Humility is not about self-degradation. It is about the difficult work of honoring the needs of others even when it seems as hopeless as watering dry sticks. The prisoners were not freed after the pope washed their feet. The deformed man was not cured. Pope Francis demonstrated unconditional love and his example calls us to do the same.
Caregivers are often called to water sticks – to care for those who will not recover, to love those who will surely die. The "sticks" bloom because of holy humility not plain water.
The guidance of Love is never pointless. The call of Love is never false.
Love requires humility. When you live Love, you always succeed.
-Erie Chapman.
Journal of Sacred Work 
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