A Sunday Thought to Start the Week Off Right
A few Sundays back we shared some thoughts about abandonment to God's will - so important if we're ever to live authentically Catholic lives. This week we identify the single most important virtue that allows us to completely, utterly, trust in God, no holds barred: humility.
The Catholic Encyclopedia defines humility thusly:
Humility is a repressing or moderating virtue opposed to pride and vainglory or that spirit within us which urges us to great things above our strength and ability.
Contrast this with the whole self-esteem/self-affirmation/self-love culture that surrounds us. You would think that if only each of us had greater self-esteem, all would be well with the world: All of us loving ourselves would somehow result in better relationships with others. All conflict, even war, would evaporate into the mists of history.
Look, while none of us should irrationally "beat ourselves up" or tear ourselves down over our faults, let's face it, we've all got them. While we shouldn't dwell on the negative aspects of our behavior and personality, we need to be realistic. Humility helps us be more realistic. Instead of the self-focus that self-esteem/self-affirmation/self-love fosters, humility helps us turn away from ourselves towards God and our neighbor. And doesn't it make more sense that less focus on ourselves and more on others will lead to a better relationships indeed a better world?
Based on this understanding, we posted a series a while back on how humility will enhance and improve our work lives (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5). It explained how and why
The following words from Abbot Benedict Baur can help us fully appreciate the need to cultivate and practice total abandonment if we desire to live a good life, experience true happiness in this life, and - some day - get to Heaven. They will help us see the critical role humility plays in our prayer life, as well as how it will help us develop the habit of abandoning ourselves to God's Will. Why not take a few minutes on this autumn Sunday to think about, even meditate on, the good Abbot's message.
“Only the humble man can become truly a man of prayer. Prayer is an acknowledgement of personal unimportance, personal nothingness, complete dependence on God, and at the same time an acknowledgement of the greatness, the goodness and the love of God towards His creature, His child. Who, then, is in a better frame of mind to pray than the humble man? Only he will show true gratitude regarding everything the day brings as a gift from God and converting every experience, every impression into a prayer, an act of appreciation, of love, of trust in God, of constant awareness of living in God and the Divine Savior. ‘God gives grace to the humble.’ – particularly the grace of prayer and the spirit of prayer. The humble man, conscious of his insufficiency, his dependence, his nothingness, is a man of unshakeable trust in God.” (Abbot Benedict Baur, O.S.B.)
Happy Sunday!
The Catholic Encyclopedia defines humility thusly:
Humility is a repressing or moderating virtue opposed to pride and vainglory or that spirit within us which urges us to great things above our strength and ability.
Contrast this with the whole self-esteem/self-affirmation/self-love culture that surrounds us. You would think that if only each of us had greater self-esteem, all would be well with the world: All of us loving ourselves would somehow result in better relationships with others. All conflict, even war, would evaporate into the mists of history.
Look, while none of us should irrationally "beat ourselves up" or tear ourselves down over our faults, let's face it, we've all got them. While we shouldn't dwell on the negative aspects of our behavior and personality, we need to be realistic. Humility helps us be more realistic. Instead of the self-focus that self-esteem/self-affirmation/self-love fosters, humility helps us turn away from ourselves towards God and our neighbor. And doesn't it make more sense that less focus on ourselves and more on others will lead to a better relationships indeed a better world?
Based on this understanding, we posted a series a while back on how humility will enhance and improve our work lives (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5). It explained how and why
- We become more attractive to both our colleagues and our employers, just as we become more attractive to Our Lord.
- We'll gain a clearer understanding of our true value - not some postured or exaggerated sense of self-worth.
- Knowing our true value entails an appreciation for the specific natural good qualities which God has given to each of us as individuals.
- This knowledge will cause us to know, indelibly, that all the good in us comes from God.
- And that knowledge will help us to more easily handle even the most difficult assignments and bear with the most trying circumstances we might encounter during the day.
The following words from Abbot Benedict Baur can help us fully appreciate the need to cultivate and practice total abandonment if we desire to live a good life, experience true happiness in this life, and - some day - get to Heaven. They will help us see the critical role humility plays in our prayer life, as well as how it will help us develop the habit of abandoning ourselves to God's Will. Why not take a few minutes on this autumn Sunday to think about, even meditate on, the good Abbot's message.
“Only the humble man can become truly a man of prayer. Prayer is an acknowledgement of personal unimportance, personal nothingness, complete dependence on God, and at the same time an acknowledgement of the greatness, the goodness and the love of God towards His creature, His child. Who, then, is in a better frame of mind to pray than the humble man? Only he will show true gratitude regarding everything the day brings as a gift from God and converting every experience, every impression into a prayer, an act of appreciation, of love, of trust in God, of constant awareness of living in God and the Divine Savior. ‘God gives grace to the humble.’ – particularly the grace of prayer and the spirit of prayer. The humble man, conscious of his insufficiency, his dependence, his nothingness, is a man of unshakeable trust in God.” (Abbot Benedict Baur, O.S.B.)
Happy Sunday!
Comments