Serious Advent Stuff About Humility To Help Us On Our Way To Bethlehem - 2

We continue with our special Advent posts, focused on the virtue of humility.

Humility has been a theme we've focused on over the years during Advent. After all, not only is humility an essential virtue for anyone aspiring to eternal life in Heaven. it's also, essential if we're struggling valiantly to become saints even as we slog our way through this Valley of Tears. 

But, perhaps most appropriate to Advent, consider Our Lord's birth in a stable in Bethlehem on that first Christmas. Could there be a more poignant and powerful example of humility than this? 

And so we'll call on one of our regular spiritual directors, Father Joseph Schryvers for some lessons in humility as we work our way through Advent. 

As we read Father's words, we'll want to apply them to our own individual circumstances - and that includes our time at work. For work, we might examine how we apply ourselves to our tasks and how we respond to whatever success we have, or lack thereof. 

If successful, do we get all puffed up? Or do we simply note that we just completed a task well done - as it should be. In that spirit, we recognize that all our tasks should be done first for the glory of God, next because we want to diligently perform all our tasks with fervor and exactness, finally because we simply have paid a debt to our employer and/or our customers and clients.

If not successful, we might face the facts. Accept either our shortcomings or failure as somehow part of God's Plan. If criticized for less-than-perfect work, rather than defend our actions, we might simply accept the criticism calmly, without resentment or complaint.

With that in mind, here's our 2nd lesson for Advent:

    “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.” - Fr. Joseph Schryvers, C.SS.R. (1876-1945)

As is our custom, we conclude with the beautiful, traditional Advent aspiration:

Divine Infant of Bethlehem

Come and Take Birth In Our Hearts!