Rooted in Humility: Returning to the Ground of Our Being

By Father Yohanes Akoit

There is a tendency to view the virtue of humility with one eye - outdated and irrelevant. It is often regarded as a stumbling block to expressing genuine feelings and as the root of enslavement. As a stumbling block, humility prevents people from speaking up. They are silenced by the jargon of patience and humility. And as a form of enslavement, there is a prohibition against complaining about violence in the family, a taboo against speaking about the arbitrary behavior of leaders, and a belief that it is impolite to criticize elders, seniors, or priests.

Due to this tendency, some cynically argue that the dark side of humility brings real consequences in various areas of life. For example: for the sake of the sacrament of marriage, violence in family life is accepted as part of the sacrament; communication becomes dishonest and closed; creativity remains hidden and unused; relationships become one-sided, with one person always giving while the other only takes; many individuals hesitate to engage in liturgical ministry within the church, perceiving themselves as inadequate or insignificant.

Indeed, the reality described above cannot be denied. It occurs in our society, our families, and even in our churches. This phenomenon is becoming increasingly common. In response, both the government and the church have begun to recognize this issue. As part of their prevention efforts, they have initiated a program called the “Safe Environment Program.” Through this program, everyone is encouraged to report and speak out. People can raise concerns about relationships between spouses, sexual abuse in the church, and more.

Now, the question arises: Is the virtue of humility still relevant? The answer lies in rediscovering the true meaning of humility. In Latin, humility comes from humilitas, rooted in humus (earth or fertile soil). Being humble means being called to stay close to the ground - an invitation to remember the source from which we come. Here, “close to the ground” refers to the grounding of a person: nationality, religion, family, brotherhood, culture, memory, and history. These are the foundations from which we derive our identity. We become who we are because we stand on that ground. Based on this understanding, humility means rooting our existence in our ground of being. We are called to love what we have - our nationality, family, culture, faith, and more.

This same inspiration can be found in Luke 14:1, 7-14. Jesus told His disciples not to choose the place of honor but to learn to take the lowest place. This is a sign of setting aside ego and selfishness, while also giving others the opportunity to grow and reach their full potential - rooted in the ground of brotherhood, where each person is valued and relationships are built on mutual respect.

So, humility is not silence in the face of injustice, nor is it passive acceptance of abuse. True humility is a call to love our existence and humanity. When rightly understood, humility becomes the foundation for genuine relationships, mutual respect, and spiritual growth. It allows us to live joyfully, free from arrogance and domination. Therefore, humility remains relevant. It must be reclaimed from misuse and restored to its rightful place as a virtue that empowers rather than enslaves, that liberates rather than silences. Only then can it truly lead us to joy in life and eternal salvation.

Father Yohanes Akoit is pastor of St. Julian and St. Anthony Catholic churches in Kentucky.