25/04/2024

My personality has always caved in to those of us who are strong. I have very rarely been able to convince  others of my point of view. In my heart of hearts, however, I know that I was right to refuse last year's invoice from British Gas. I was right but ultimately accepted the power of that great concern. To accept a lie is a mark of my weakness. 

St Peter, who has experienced for himself the difference between weakness and humility, today preaches the humility that is at the heart of the second commandment. His replies, when challenged at the time of Jesus trial, were sinful weakness of which we must all beware in our lives on this earth.

We are all called to bear witness to Father, Son and Holy Spirit by the way we live our lives. We have to remember the self-fulfilled  pride that was the prayer of the Pharisee."Thank God that I am not as other men". He has become in his own eyes the epitome of righteousness and he scorns the publican, the sinner who asks for mercy.

Humility is not weakness. I am weak when I don't maintain the earnest devotion with which I start each day. I remember hearing at an AA meeting 40 years ago that if you think you've got humility, then you can be sure that you don't. 

There is something in my being that cannot be convinced by the overwhelming evidence of my weakness and tells me that I am as good as anybody else in this world. This could be the Lord who tells us that we are all known and loved because that is his nature. The only justifiable pride is to be humble in the Love of the Lord and pray that we all accept his gifts as unconditional displays of his bounty and not as tributes to the being that I am.

Dear Lord, you know how we are able to be blinded by success in this world and addicted to the acquisition of wealth. Help us all to try to come to an understanding of the immensity of the humility you showed in the Incarnation even before the death you underwent on the shame of the cross and then be sincerely thankful for this ultimate example of  human life lived for others. There is nothing that we can do in life that is better than the humble prayer on our knees when we ask for forgiveness and praise You for your Glory