Today we pray the 6th day in our novena through St. Maximilian Kolbe for someone trapped in addiction to alcohol or drugs, or anything else. You may be saying this prayer for yourself. As usual, go here , and read the novena prayer and then ponder this:

Philippians 2:6-11;

Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.

Rather, he emptied “himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.

Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This, is humility. Jesus, although He knew He was God, did not allow that to prevent Himself from becoming human like us, His brothers and sisters.

He became essentially a slave, a member of a conquered nation in a backwater part of the Roman Empire and whose life ended as an executed criminal. Humility defined Him, from His Incarnation as a baby, rather than a triumphant warrior-Messiah conquering Israel’s enemies; to His horrible death.

Humility is what He taught us. The humble way is most often the most enduring and most remembered. People remember Catholic saints who died centuries ago who accomplished little of value in the eyes of the world, but their saintly deeds transformed peoples and societies and the Church. You remember St. Francis from the 13th Century, but name one great secular person from that period. Unless you’re an historian, you’d be hard-pressed. (I think Genghis Khan hailed from that era. Not a good role model.)

This is the way of recovery. This is how you stop drinking or drugging. You become humble and ask for assistance or become humble and give it.

You don’t cling to that which is prideful, to be full of yourself, “Oh, look at me.” Yes, so?

What has God called you to be in this life? We only have one life, and each of us has a purpose for which God called us into being.

Jeremiah 1:5;

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.

You may not be a prophet to the nations, but maybe your life can have meaning to a few people. It is of great value, although it may not seem that way for now.

“Rise up, let us be on our way”, (from a title of a book by Pope John Paul II, the Great). So, arise. Stop drinking and/or drugging. You are worthy, you are precious. You weren’t created by God to remain an addict.

Arise.

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