Pondering Tidbits of Truth - April 18, 2024
Pondering Tidbits of Truth is my simple and inadequate way of providing nuggets of spiritual wisdom for you to chew on from time to time. Father Jacques Philippe “The fact that we can’t save ourselves is something we acknowledge in words, but in fact we find it very hard to accept. We’d all like to be saved by our own efforts…to shine in other people’s eyes, even on the spiritual level. Worldly people want to be highly regarded because they have luxurious cars, expensive watches, designer clothes, professional prestige, and go around with beautiful people. As good Christians, we may want to stand out for our virtues, charisms, experience, and sound judgement. Then we consider that we are on the right path. But in fact we’re in danger of ending up with exactly the same mindset as the worldly people described above. Very often, without realizing it, we have a worldly outlook on the spiritual life: self-fulfillment, self-affirmation, expansion of the ego, etc. And spiritual pride, w
A great way to grow in humility.
ReplyDeleteSt.Gertrude the Great writes of the devotion to the Holy Face, and represented this Face to herself as all disfigured by her sins. She writes that we shall be judged before the Face of Christ, but no longer the suffering Face. "If, then, we have been devout to it during life, surely we may hope that it will look mercifully and lovingly upon us when we stand before the judgment-seat." Jesus told her He accepts even the lifting of a pebble or straw from the ground or to utter a single word, to show kindness to any one in union with His mercy in granting this indulgence.
ReplyDeleteI only wish I could remember all these things all the time.