









Jesus comes from humble beginnings and begins his public career showing humility. Jesus was born to humble parents, a peasant carpenter and a young mother of no particular standing. He was born in the relatively unknown town of Bethlehem, nothing like the centres of power and prestige in Jerusalem and Rome of his day. He was visited by the esteemed magi and given lavish gifts, but immediately after, his family became refugees, fleeing their home country for their lives. When they returned, they had to begin building their life again in the simple, small town of Nazareth. It’s no surprise then that Jesus grows to adulthood without an inflated ego.
Right from the beginning of Jesus’ adult life, we see how his humility plays out at his baptism. John was the famous one at that point, with huge crowds of people leaving their homes and workplaces to go out into the desert to hear him preach and teach. Humble, poor people were going to him to be baptized, as well as the welleducated and well-off religious leaders of the day. Jesus thought it was only right that he began his public ministry by being baptized “with all the rest.” In his solidarity with all humans, Jesus doesn’t ask for special treatment because he is the Son of God. At his baptism, he signals how he will live the rest of his life, accepting what comes at him as any other human has to. In case there was any doubt, the voice from heaven makes it clear that Jesus is God’s Son, the Beloved. But even those words don’t go to Jesus’ head. He simply does what is his to do next: going into the wilderness for 40 days and then beginning to teach and heal. He is a perfect example of one who accepts his belovedness and retains his humility.
Questions of the Week
Whom do you know from humble beginnings who have earned your respect because they have shown themselves to be people of great integrity?
Often people feel the need to show off, puff themselves up, or otherwise prove their worthiness to feel good about themselves. If Everyone were able to believe that they are beloved and that God is pleased with them, how might that change things?