Tuesday, December 5, 2017

The Pope Mentioned Humility

The pope preached humility.  This is a change, a very good change.  It is like watching a "prequel" to a movie on "mercy" since humility precedes mercy.

"'Humility without humiliation,' [the pope] stressed, 'is not humility.'" [1]  That is half right.  He omitted to mention humility's twin, which can be had without humiliation, which is found when one humbles oneself before God.

God does not humiliate anyone; yet, one must pray with humility.  In this sense, humility means the absence of pride, not the presence of humiliation.  Perhaps the pope will introduce to his flock the other side of humility which is humility without pride.

Every prayer must begin with humility.  One who is sinful must humble oneself before the One Who is sinless.  To put it another way, one who is unable to overcome Satan must humble oneself before the One Who defeated it (Satan is a "he" but Satan is a "it" in this blog) and Who helps one overcome its evil forces.

Moreover, one does not thank God as God's equal; one thanks God knowing one is undeserving of God's assistance and gifts.  No sinner has a right to expect God's love and mercy, even as some seemed to have repeatedly taught the contrary.  This blogger is convinced that God's love and mercy follow humility, defined as the absence pride.

Humility is difficult to preach.  Words alone are meaningless.  It is humility in action that catches people's attention.  People are sensitive.  They notice hypocrisy.  Not many things are more repugnant than preaching humility on the one hand and being prideful on the other.


[1] http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/12/05/pope_mass_santa_marta_humility_humiliation_holy_spirit_gifts/1352979

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