In last week’s reflection, we stated that part of God’s ability to be humble lies in the knowledge He has of human nature. Before He created us, He knew what we would be like. We were made in His image, and that includes free will, the ability to choose good or evil. God knew this before creation ever came to be, yet He freely chose to create the universe, and mankind along with it.  And God knew that mankind would sin. To God, it is more important that we be free than that we be obedient, though He wants us to be both. 

This freedom allows us to love (which means to will what is good for the other person). Love is not about how we feel, but instead is about what we choose. Without freedom, we couldn’t sin, but we also couldn’t love.

The knowledge that God has of human nature led to the great act of love which we call the Incarnation. The Son of God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, freely and lovingly came to earth and joined a human nature to His divine nature. He lived a truly human life. He enjoyed the same free will that we have – yet, He never sinned. He knew what fallen human nature was, but He also knew what God had originally intended, and that was how He lived, always choosing the good. 

Every sin that mankind commits is an infinite offense against God’s goodness. That is a lot of sins! And because we are not infinite, we cannot offer God anything that would truly make up for sin. God knew this, too. That is why Jesus (who in His divine nature is infinite) came to earth and, though sinless, paid a horrible price for sin so that we might be cleansed. 

How humble! God knew human nature perfectly and did all that He could to make sure that we could live forever, despite our bad choices. 

Jesus’ knowledge of human nature made Him humble. 

This week, let us try to be humble by knowing ourselves as God knows us, and knowing that others are known and loved by God too.