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You will only be good if you know how to see the good points
and the virtues of the others. That is why when you have to correct, you
should do so with charity, at the opportune moment, without humiliating. And
being ready yourself to learn and to improve in the very faults you are
correcting. (The Forge, 455) |
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One of its first expressions is to initiate the soul into the
ways of humility. When we sincerely see ourselves as nothing; when we
understand that, without God’s help, the weakest and most puny of creatures
would be better than we are; when we see we are capable of every kind of
error and every kind of abomination; when we realize we are sinners, even
though we are earnestly struggling to turn our back on our many infidelities,
how could we possibly think badly of others? Or how could we harbour fanaticism,
intolerance or haughtiness in our hearts? Humility leads us as it were by the hand to treat our
neighbour in the best way possible, that is, being understanding towards
everyone, living at peace with everyone, forgiving everyone; never creating
divisions or barriers; and behaving — always! — as instruments that foster
unity. Not in vain is there in the depths of man’s being a strong longing for
peace, for union with his fellow man, for a mutual respect for personal
rights, so strong that it seeks to transform human relations into fraternity.
This longing reflects something which is most deeply imprinted upon our human
condition: since we are all children of God, our fraternity is not a cliché
or an empty dream; it beckons as a goal which, though difficult, is really
ours to achieve... In prayer, with God’s grace, pride can be transformed into
humility. Then, true joy wells up in our heart, even though we feel that the
wings of our soul are still clogged with the mud, the clay of our
wretchedness which is now beginning to dry out. If we practice mortification
the mud will fall off, allowing us to soar very high, because the wind of
God’s mercy will be blowing in our favour. (Friends of God, 233 and 249) |
