Humility in Action

A timely reflection for this Lenten season

CHRIST:
1. My child, nothing is more pleasing to Me than to see you truly humble in your daily life. The humble man remains at peace when others find fault with him. His attention is so firmly fixed on Me that he is as conscious of My presence as he is of the people around him. He cannot forget his complete dependence on Me. He is so impressed by his own nothingness that he fights against all forms of pride within him. As a result of this hatred of all pride, he refuses to defend his rights in unimportant matters.
2. People resent the man who seeks to raise himself above them, but no one resents the man who is little in his own eyes. The humble man does not look for admiration. He is as willing to be last, as others are anxious to be first. He does not care what others think of him but in all things he is eager to please Me. He is not interested in honors, reputation or human applause. He knows that I judge without error or misunderstanding, and he seeks only My approval.
3. The truly humble man is not afraid to have others know or correct his faults. He uses these humiliations to prove to himself that he wants no earthly glory, but only self-improvement for My sake.
4. Never compare yourself with those who seem worse than you, but reflect often up on My infinite generosity with you. Remember your enormous debt of gratitude to Me. Humility will convince you that without Me, you are nothing. This virtue will urge you on toward greater self-sacrifice for My sake.

THINK:
The man who is little in his own eyes, is truly great in God's eyes, because he is a man of truth. He counts as nothing all the satisfactions, accomplishments and glories of earthly life becase he sees God as his first and highest good. The lower he reaches in self-esteem, so much the higher does he rise toward the God of truth. Anyone who attributes any good to himself alone, hinders God's grace from raising him to true perfection. All perfection begins with an honest facing of facts; that is, humility.

PRAY:
My heavenly Father, God of truth, You reveal Your secrets to the humble man. You invite him to a closer and highter friendship with You. Let me abandon all pretense and hypocrisy, and help me be honest with You, with people, and with my self. I must not hide the truth from myself. I want to admit it in my actions, even when it is unpleasant. Only then shall I receive Your peace and joy. Thoughts of death and judgement will not arouse fear within me because my love of truth will be my guarantee of salvation. Let me face what I am and begin today to improve myself according to Your holy plan. I shall humble myself as often as I can, so that I may never forget my complete dependence on You. I shall look on humiliations as an opportunity to overcome my foolish pride. When praise and honor come to me, I shall pass it on to You, the fountain of all success. My greatest glory lies in living a truthful life, free of self-deception and foolish pride. Amen.