The Sunday Sermon Archive

Dear Friend,

"Every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

These are the way things are in the spiritual life because of original sin and all our actual sins which we have added on to it. If we were not contaminated by sin we would be able to form a more correct understanding of our true worth. We would in essence see ourselves as God sees us. And what God sees in us is what is truly there.

Sadly though when God looks into most of us there is very little there, but hot air and illusions. We fancy that we are good because we have abstained from killing, robbing, or stealing from anyone, even though we may have actually willingly entertained these thoughts. We deceive ourselves that we are good because we utter a few prayers half-heartedly by rote and thus think that we have truly prayed. Under such illusions we often stand before God and men as if we were truly holy and just.

The proper attitude for us is rather one of humility. We should be able to examine our consciences and be humbly grieved that we have wasted so much time in not truly loving God. We have wasted so much time in not praying well. We have wasted so much time in not loving our neighbor. We have wasted so much time in useless "entertainment" (or even worse sinful entertainment). We have wasted so much time in evil thoughts.

We have harmed our neighbor in thought word, deed or omission. We have offended God not just a few times but many times.

The more that we come to see and understand who and what we truly are (see ourselves as God sees us), the more we are forced by necessity to assume that humble attitude that is most true and most beneficial to us.

The humble man recognizes the fact that he is a sinner and turns to God for mercy. He turns to Him knowing that he is not worthy of mercy and that in justice God should have cast him into Hell a long time ago. And because this opinion of himself is closer to the true reality of his soul God is pleased. And thus, "he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." God will lift him up wash away his sins clothe him with the finest garments of virtue and welcome him into the kingdom of Heaven.

Woe to those who will not humble themselves. They refuse to see the truth and proudly and arrogantly stand before God and men proclaiming themselves just and "entitled" to entrance into the kingdom of Heaven. They have blinded themselves, though most of their fellow men can see right through their illusions. When their friends speak to them about humility they will boldly proclaim that they are humble and never stop to consider their own hypocrisy.

Such men are liars and thieves. In their lies they steal away the truth. They offend God who is Truth itself. Thus every lie is an attack against God. And thus they are attempting to steal honor and glory from God. And in fact they do so steal from God but it is only for a short time. God sees and is resolved to punish these sins either while we are here on earth or in eternity. Ultimately, God's justice will win out.

The proud man is therefore very poor. He thinks that he has something whereas he has nothing. It is truly a pitiable state. And thus we should be inclined to pray that God will disabuse such a soul of the illusions that he is under. This is true Charity for our neighbor.

We must do our part also and seek to help such persons see the truth (never in a mean or vindictive manner, but with all humility, truth and charity). And let us be forewarned that we will suffer just as St. Paul: the majority will consider us their enemies because we loved them and spoke the truth to them.

Nonetheless, it is an honor and a privilege to be hated and despised by the world, especially those like the Pharisee in today's Gospel. They in fact due us justice; we deserve far worse than they meet out to us because of our sins. And even if they are mistaken in their condemnation of us on one point, there are many others for which we probably do deserve condemnation. And if we will bear this patiently and humbly for the love of God and in imitation of Christ we will be found to have truly lived a life that is Christ-like and worthy of being exalted.

Franciscan Benefactor Seraph Subscription Vocations Have you remembered God?