Focusing on Fundamentals During Advent - 2

(A re-post to help us work our way through Advent.)
 

We continue our focus on fundamentals during Advent. Again, we'll ask Fr. Joseph Schryvers, C.SS.R. (1876-1945), whose work we've quoted many times in the past, to help us better understand the importance of the virtue of humility after a few comments about how our work and our relationships at work will improve as we develop the virtue of humility:

While we all strive to do our best at work, we should know that, ultimately, all good comes from God. Such certain knowledge helps us when we've put our heart and soul into something that doesn't quite work out as we wished. If we allow our short-comings and failures to increase our humility, we'll begin understand the fact that, in the end, what matters is God's Will, His plan for us. While we do our best to understand His Will, our knowledge simply isn't infallible. Of course, that won't deter us from formulating our plans and doing our best to see that they lead to success. It's just that we want to develop the understanding that it's really in the effort that our work derives its real, ultimate value, not in the results - a least in God's eyes. And what else could possibly be more important than how God sees us and our work?

Moreover, as we acquire this understanding through our deepening humility, we'll learn to rely on God's help more and more. Doing so will, in a very real sense, find us working side by side with God throughout our work day. We apply ourselves by putting in that pure, focused effort to produce the best work we can. And there, right next to us, Jesus will perform the work on your soul that will sanctify your work. You work now not only for the success of your business, but you work your way towards Heaven. Can you possibly imagine a better arrangement?

To summarize, consciously and prayerfully begin your work each day by relying on God with a humble spirit, even as we put forth our best efforts. Trust in Him such that no matter the results of your efforts, you know that those results happen according to His Plan for you.

With this in mind we turn to Father Schryvers comments:

“If you wish to please Jesus, so as to take full possession of His Heart and to force him to work wonders in you, be a little child, without pretensions and without any reliance on yourself. ‘When a soul is called to intimate relations with God, she should clothe herself with humility, as God is clothed with glory.’ It was Jesus Who said these words to a visitation nun, Sister Benigna Consolata, whom He called His Benjamin, the Little Secretary of His love. Without humility Jesus cannot do His work in your soul; He can scarcely consent to remain there. How can He possess your mind, and use it for His own ends, when this mind is warped by an exaggerated idea of its own importance? How can He reign over your will and make Himself the center of all its aspirations, when this faculty constitutes itself the center of your whole life?

“Jesus does not stay with the proud, but He loves to dwell with the humble. ‘I confess to Thee,’ said He to His Father, ‘because Thou hast hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to little ones.’ (Mt: 11:25) ‘Let him who is a little one, come unto me.’ ‘Amen, I say to you, unless you be converted and become as little children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.’ ‘Take up My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, because I am meek, and humble of heart.’ No one enjoys the society of the proud. In presence of the haughty, one feels ill at ease and cannot exchange that cordiality which is the charm of pleasant, mutual relations. Apply this to the Heart of Jesus, Which is made exactly like ours and was enamoured above all by the humility of His Handmaid.”

We conclude with our special Advent aspiration, which we repeat over and over again throughout this holy season to prepare ourselves for Christmas:

Diving Infant of Bethlehem, come and take birth in our hearts!