"WHAT THE RICH MAN LACKED"
“No man has faith who does not
believe that he has received his being from Go; Neither has he faith, who
thinks that any other than the Almighty can give him strength to become good,
for holiness is a higher gift than mere existence. Those who imagine they can
attain to holiness by any wisdom or strength of their own, will find themselves
after many labors, and struggles, and weary efforts, only the farther from
possessing it, and this in proportion to their certainty that they of
themselves have gained it.
Humility and self-contempt will obtain our wish far sooner than will stubborn pride. Though God is so exalted, his eyes regard the lowly, both in heaven and on earth, and we shall strive in vain to please him in any other way than by abasing ourselves. The Son of God came down from heaven and taught us by his life and words the way to heaven, and that way is humility, as he said: "he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Lk 18:14). Therefore, if you wish God to give you a new heart, you must first of all amend your deeds, and then lament your faults and accuse yourself of your sins. Do not extenuate your defects, but judge yourself justly; let not your self-love blind you, but when conscience accuses you of wrong, do not forget it, but keep it before your eyes and manifest it to Jesus Christ, your Savior and Physician. Weep for it before him, and he will comfort you without fail. No force can prevail with a Father like the tears of his child, nor is there anything which so moves God to grant us, not justice, but mercy, as our sorrow and self-accusation.”
— Saint John of Avila, Saint John of Avila (+1569) was a Spanish priest and a Church reformer. He is a Doctor of the Church.
— Magnificat, Vol 14, No. 6, October, 2012
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