Extreme Humility

DESCRIPTION FROM THE SITE SELLING THIS ICON:

Here Christ is depicted descending into Hades bearing the instruments of the Passion: the Cross, lance, and sponge. His hands are as if bound but no rope is tying them together, demonstrating that He voluntarily chose to be fettered and willingly suffered for the salvation of all. We see the bleeding wounds on His side and hands, for He has kept His wounds even in His Resurrection as a sign that His agony and suffering were real and remain as a pledge of His undying Love for each person, even to His Death on the Cross. With His eyes closed He is truly dead to the world and all of its passionate needs during His descent in to Hades, yet inwardly beholding all things as the all-seeing God.

When we think of God and the attributes that are His by nature--unconditional Love, complete omnipresence and omnipotence, Existence Itself without the boundaries of time and space, all-holiness, absolute compassion and empathy, Truth that is never swayed by partiality yet tempered by Divine Mercy, total understanding--each is astounding and hard to comprehend, but this icon’s “Extreme Humility” is perhaps the most close and dear to us.



The more I think about my previous blog, the more I begin to realize that what I have to offer may not always be pearls. :) I mean, *I* think they are pearls, but are they? Am I really over come by my own ego?

Christ could have said, during his passion, "HEY! DONT YOU KNOW WHO I AM! DONT YOU KNOW WHAT I HAVE DONE FOR YOU!? I HEALED YOUR PEOPLE! I GAVE ALL I HAD! GIVE ME SOME CREDIT HERE!"But he didnt.

He allowed himself to settle into extreme humility. Can I come even close to this? Even if I cannot, should I at least try?

My anger and disappointment is usually over my pride. I am by nature a fairly humble person, but... certainly not always. And certainly not at the most important times. I often deeply desire to have people appreciate me. ME. ME!! I would like to learn to give without wanted appreciation in trade. Its a tall order.



So casting my pearls before swine?? Maybe I need to check to see if what I am casting is truly pearls. One man's treasure is another man's junk. And maybe I need to place my trust in God... because, um... God actually has it all under control without my help. :)