Spirituality In The Home

The most important relationship in our lives is with our Creator, and through this will come our happiness or unhappiness, dependant upon how much time we give to our Loving God and Saviour. This is why it is essential for family unity that God is the Head of your home and that family life is based around a prayerful relationship with God and obedience to the Church as we are nurtured in the Sacraments and the Word of God.

This can only be attained through the Eucharist that strengthens us and it is prayer that gains for us the peace that Christ promised, it can come through no other way than this. Gaining this inner peace cannot come from the television nor the computer or any other entertainment, for we cannot have relationship with inanimate objects.

If parents are lacking in a prayer life, and fail to embrace God in a loving relationship, then the children will also follow the lead set by their Fathers and Mothers, for the health of the family unit rests upon the parents. It is also not enough to fulfil your duty by attending Mass as if that were sufficient in and of itself, God does not want 'rituals' from us, He desires we love Him for who He is and not from what we can gain. This is relationship, and it is when we are in relationship with God that we find the strength to overcome obstacles in our path and to be able to nurture one another within the Sacrament of marriage.

In order for both partners to do this we need to know and understand God's Will which is different from our own, for though God does not remove all strife from us, still He will strengthen both spouses to overcome all obstacle, which may be threatening their family unity. When both spouses neglect God, they place their marriage in danger and also their children’s welfare is in jeopardy as all become hostages to circumstances.

From the beginning of their marriage both husband and wife need to nurture and validate one another by placing God as their focus and to understand that their happiness together is dependant upon the quality and quantity of their prayer life as a family. For God cannot help the unwilling and He will not intrude where He is not wanted, for God is a gentle Lover of the soul and not a demanding one! But, though God does not demand we love Him, still He does Command us to love Him before all others. Demanding something from someone is enforcing your will upon the other in order to gain something for oneself, usually at the cost of another. Whereas a Command is so that God may give us what we need once we have surrendered ourselves to His Love, in order for Him to give of Himself to His children. God cannot pour out His Love or His Grace into hearts that reject His invitation to relationship, so even though families may attend Mass from a sense of duty, the true benefits of Communion with our Lord is lost.

So in order for husbands and wives to be supportive of one another and also respectful of each others needs, both couples must balance their life around prayer as essential to their well being, for prayer is the foundation that will hold the marriage together when spouses face internal difficulties and hardship. All marriages must be worked at, none happen by magic, but the vital component to a happy and fulfilled marriage is when the couple have placed God as its cornerstone.

When we look to the Scriptures, we find that the God blessed those who lived to do His Will and were obedient to Him. The story of Saints Joachim and Anne bear witness to this, as they prayed for a child to fulfil their happiness and God granted their request with not just any child, but, one who would bear the Son of God, their most holy daughter, Mary. Both Joachim and Anne set the example for all parents to follow, as they gave Glory to God in Heaven, and taught Mary the Faith and also instilled in her a love of prayer, work and thanksgiving.

The marriage of Joseph and Mary continued this pattern of prayer, living their Faith and placing God at the centre of their lives as they went about their daily tasks. And our Heavenly Father also shows how much He esteems marriage by sending Angels to Joseph to warn him of impending danger this was done in order to validate Joseph as head of the home and God as protector of the Holy couple because they were obedient to God's Will. But both Joseph and Mary loved God not in a ritualistic sense but from an outpouring of their hearts which displayed itself in ritual symbolism as manifestations of the awe and love they had for God. Joseph and Mary were not fulfilling a duty but displaying acts of love through the religious observances, of their time.

We need to follow these Holy examples of marriage as God intended marriage to be and not be waylaid by how society believes marriage should be, which substitutes a relationship with God through prayer by means of 'self empowerment' as both husband and wife are seduced into living for themselves rather than in self giving. We can also look to another Saint, Anna Maria Taigi who though she lived a hectic life with the upbringing of her 7 children, a demanding husband and at the same time nursing her ill mother, still made sure that God was the central focus of her family while not neglecting her duties as wife and mother. This Holy Saint taught her children that in order to live happy and fulfilled lives they must also place God to the forefront of their own lives, she did this by having family prayer times and spiritual reading which set the pattern for her marriage. As her husband testified in these words, "It often happened that on my return home I found the house full of people. At once she would leave anyone who was there - a great lady, maybe, or a prelate - and would hasten to wait on me affectionately and attentively. One could see that she did it with all her heart." Anna Maria by this action validated her husbands position whilst never negating God's, and through this course maintained her own inner peace and tranquility in a hectic household.

It is through these examples that parents of today need to learn and follow as more and more the family unit comes under attack. There are lessons for all as husbands need to learn to appreciate their wives and wives need to respect and honour their husbands position as head of their home. And both Spouses need to nurture and provide the best possible care for their children, by listening to them, encouraging them, and also instilling in them a love of God through prayer, Scripture and spiritual reading. But also what is truly essential is to attend Mass as an ongoing expression of their love for God in sincere Worship that spills forth from their love of this Awesome God, rather than 'going through the motions'.

For in all times children look to their parents to set the pattern and if both Father and Mother attend Mass simply as a 'ritual or duty' the children will also fail to gain the one thing they need in a harsh world, a fulfilling relationship with their Heavenly Father upon which their future happiness rests.

Both Spouses need to foster their love of God by symbolic but sincere practices within their home by creating a 'sacred corner' in their home, where Holy water, a candle, Bible, a Crucifix and other religious symbols need to be placed to remind oneself that they are addressing the Almighty as they gather around for family prayer time.

For in the old saying....'A family that prays together stays together’ and with all the chaos surrounding our world with its stresses and discords many families are in desperate need of the power of family prayer.

To end in the words of St. John Vianney, "I turn to you, dear parents, and implore you to imitate the Holy Family of Nazareth."

Peace of Christ to ALL

Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

Spirit of Simplicity

Our lifestyles have become almost too hectic to enjoy it! Many who have to travel to work often find themselves caught up in traffic jams both at the beginning of their morning and the end of the day. And all this is endured so that we can provide the best for our families, but what exactly is the best we are trying to attain?

Have any really sat and looked at what is essential for our happiness and well being? Have we got our priorities right or wrong? These are the questions that each of us should be asking within ourselves for do we work to gain the necessities of life or for the luxuries of life?

In our quest to gather 'things' we lose the essential requirement to enjoy our gadgets and luxuries and that is time. We have no time to truly enjoy the TV's that are in each room, we have no time to listen to the CD's we bought for our stereo's, we have no time to wear the expensive clothes we bought...we have simply grown too busy to enjoy life!

Is this the way life was meant to be, as the divorce ratio grows each year and so many of our children turn to gangs or drugs to replace the affection they are missing at home. Where many Mothers are overstressed and overwhelmed at the responsibility to teach and instruct their children on the right paths and to also give comfort and support to their husbands. Where Fathers return home from a world which is cut throat and where their hard work is not appreciated no matter the hours spent at their work place.

Surely God did not mean for our life to be a part of the 'rat race' for that is not living life but merely existing in a world of plastic people who fail to connect with one another even between husbands and wives. How many lonely wives and husbands spend hours on the computer or watching the TV as a replacement for what they truly lack and that is intimacy. How many children come home from school and sit in front of the TV as it takes the place of parental control, the TV in affect has become the new home nanny!

The computer and the TV is no replacement for quality conversation, that we should be enjoying with those we love most, our families. Life was never meant to be 'endured' but to be enjoyed, but we can only enjoy our life when we realise what is truly important to each of us, is it to watch the latest episode of our favourite soap opera's or to have a meaningful conversation with our Spouses and children?

Many also make the mistake of thinking one needs lots of money to enjoy life, when did fresh air cost money or tree's or the lush gardens and deep green lawns of parklands? For a family to truly enjoy life we don’t need expensive gadgets, but we do need imagination and a willingness to change our priorities. We also need to once again look back at our grandparents or even Saints from our Church to learn that life can and should be a joyous experience!

For society is too ready to try and influence all of us to place our eyes on what is the non essentials of life, but that does not mean we need to listen to the seduction of advertisements as they try and persuade us into living above our means. As St. Vincent de Paul warns with these words when it comes to what society honours and dishonours, "Among those who make profession of following the maxims of Christ, simplicity ought to be held in great esteem; for, among the wise of this world there is nothing more contemptible or despicable than this. Yet it is a virtue most worthy of love, because it leads us straight to the kingdom of God, and, at the same time, wins for us the affection of men; since one who is regarded as upright, sincere, and! an enemy to tricks and fraud, is loved by all."

A simple lifestyle does not mean living in poverty; it is simply enjoying and making the best of what we have rather than what we long for. When we follow this maxim then great treasures abound as our lives become less complicated and more liveable, we end up enjoying the company of our families, but it takes ingenuity to keep sacred, the time spent with one another. On cold winter nights plan an indoor picnic, yes! Place a blanket on the living room floor and enjoy a novel picnic made easy with your little ones and your spouse.

Fun does not cost money, humour is also free of charge, hugs do no damage to the recipient and laughter is the best medicine one doesn't have to buy! What can beat the laughter of your children and to know you are the cause of their joy? Or the loving embrace of your Spouse and know how loved you are for being...yourself?

It does not take great effort to live a simple lifestyle, but it does take great heart to live a life of giving the best of yourself to all those around you and most importantly your own family. As Saint Francis de Sales said in regard to simplicity, "Simplicity is nothing but an act of charity pure and simple, which has but one sole end, that of gaining the love of God. Our soul is then truly simple, when we have no aim at all but this, in all we do."

When we have truly placed God at the centre of our lives, it is easy to live a more simplistic and less complicated lifestyle. But if God is on the periphery of our lives then it will lead many to place the wrong emphasis on the wrong things which will lead inevitably to inner unhappiness within yourself and those around you. As once again St. Vincent de Paul reminds us, "simplicity is to make us go straight to God, without regard to human respect or our own interests. It leads us to tell ! things candidly, and just as they exist in our hearts. It leads us to act simply, without admixture of hypocrisy and artifice, and finally, keeps us at a distance from every kind of deceit and double-dealing."

We may live in a Godless society but that does not mean our home life must reflect that which society espouses as 'wise'. We do not need a TV in every room or multiple computers in order to fill the emptiness within ourselves, what we do need is God and there is no replacement for the indwelling Spirit. For it is from the indwelling Spirit that we are made complete and it is also the same Spirit that fills our lives and our hearts with His love, joy and peace. As St. Francis de Sales also said when talking about simplicity, "True simplicity is like that of children, who think, speak, and act candidly and without craftiness. They believe whatever is told them; they have no care or thought for themselves, especially when with their ! parents; they cling to them, without going to seek their own satisfactions and consolations, which they take in good faith, and enjoy' with simplicity, without any curiosity about their causes and effects."

We are in affect living expressions of the Divine to our families and to the outside world, what do people see in your face? A person too busy for anyone or a person in love with life and living it with joyous abundance!

Peace of Christ to you ALL

Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

Spirit of Meekness

In a world where achieving 'things' is paramount and rising to the top of the success ladder is applauded, no matter how ruthlessly it was gained or at what cost to the soul. Still many long for the riches and power which the world offers, but this is gained at the expense of the happiness and tranquility we all long for but find impossible to maintain.

In order to find this inner peace and joy we need to embrace a spirit of meekness, but in order to do that we must also understand what meekness essentially is. Many have the mistaken belief that meekness is weakness whereas nothing could be further from the truth. To restrain the worst side of our natures takes a great deal of strength and it is those who have embraced meekness that have also gained control of their tempers and practices self control in all area's of life.

Meekness is also allowing ourselves to listen and hear the indwelling Spirit rather than begin rambling dialogues with God, that is the difference between the meek and a person still driven by it's Egocentric self. For as Peter reminds instructs, "but rather the hidden character of the heart, expressed in the imperishable beauty of a gentle and calm disposition, which is precious in the sight of God....Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another, compassionate, humble."

A meek person thinks only of Godly things and lays it's confidence in the Goodness of God for Himself alone, and not for what it can acquire, for the meek heart is not driven by the ego but is led on the pathways of peace towards all. This requires strength of character, a strong resolve not to allow itself to leave the Presence of God or become engrossed in worldly pursuits. But neither is meekness an airy fairy way of existing, for those who live the spirit of meekness also practice the corporal works of mercy and a deep prayer life from which it gains its spiritual strength. A meek spirit thinks not of itself or tries to make itself the centre of attention instead it seeks to alleviate the sufferings of those who need a kind word and encouragement to face another day.

Even when unjustly accused the meek of heart pay no heed to rumours or the discontent of others but seeks instead to offer up their pains and sufferings for others, as St. Therese said to a fellow Sister, "Why should we defend ourselves when we are misunderstood and misjudged? Let us leave that aside. Let us not say anything. It is so sweet to let others judge us in any way they like. O blessed silence, which gives so much peace to the soul!" We only become discontented and offended when we have placed worldly considerations on what others may think of us instead of maintaining our peace if our conscience is clear before God.

It is when we submit in all obedience to God that the sting of others opinion loses its ability to hurt or affect our peace of heart, for a heart that is easily offended is a soul still struggling with pride and fearful of the opinions of its contemporaries. Indeed at times those who see a meek spirit will attempt to disturb it by false allegations as St. Francis de Sales instructs us with these words, "As soon as worldly people see that you wish to follow a devout life they aim a thousand darts of mockery and even detraction at you. The most malicious of them will slander your conversion as hypocrisy, bigotry, and trickery. They will say that the world has turned against you and being rebuffed by it you have turned to God. Your friends will raise a host of objections which they consider very prudent and charitable. They will tell you that you will become depressed, lose your reputation in the world, be unbearable, and grow old before your time, and that your affairs at home will suffer. You must live in the world like one in the world. They will say that you can save your soul without going to such extremes, and a thousand similar trivialities...It is true, that if we are ready to laugh, play cards, or dance with the world in order to please it, it will be scandalized at us, and if we don't, it will accuse us of hypocrisy or melancholy."

Meekness is not an attribute greatly esteemed in the world in that one becomes less SELF focused and more God centred as it serves our Lord by serving others with love and also respect. When we live to serve God we let go of our need to please people in order to gain their praises which is a form of pride, we instead serve people for love of God, that is the deciding difference which lay at our motivations.

God can see into our hearts and knows for what reasons we do things so if the motivating force is the approval and praise of man God then distances Himself as the soul loses it's focus on God and becomes self absorbed. If the soul is attentive to our Lord it will notice the distance and through prayer and the Sacraments of the Church, their relationship with God will be restored, through God's Grace.

For the meek of heart know that in and of itself it has nothing to offer apart from what it has received from God, for all is Gift. For as Scripture reminds us, "If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. each looking out not for his own interests, but (also) everyone for those of others."

It is obvious to become truly meek takes great strength but also a great deal of self control to maintain its central focus on God and not itself and worldly distractions. And though at times many will fail, God has given us the Sacraments to give us the fortitude to persevere and grow in our relationship with Him.

The person who lives in meekness is in direct contrast to those who have embraced the worldly way. For the worldly way seeks to satisfy self at any opportunity and at any price as they focus on their self importance and impose their self will onto others who are weaker than themselves, that is not love, it is manipulation.

A meek heart simply acknowledges it's littleness to the Living God and with self knowledge accredits all its good thoughts, intentions and deeds to the Almighty who is the Source of Love and Wisdom. And by a life of prayer and study of the Scriptures it grows in love as God teaches the soul its own nothingness, and then raises the soul to Himself not because it is worthy but because God is Love and all Powerful.

We also learn from our great Saints who lived humble and meek lives totally given over to God, in the words of St. Therese, "I prefer to be accused unjustly, for then I have nothing to reproach myself with, and joyfully offer this to the good Lord. Then I humble myself at the thought that I am indeed capable of doing the thing of which I have been accused." This great Saint even though so very young understood that if it were not for God's guidance she would be capable of many great offences but it is God Himself who saves her from herself.

A meek heart seeks after God and lives to do the Will of the Father as did our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves.For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

Peace of Christ to ALL

Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

Demystifying Mysticism

A mystic is not someone who walks around with their head in the clouds, thinking profound thoughts 24 hours a day or who has lost touch with the world around them, that is not true mysticism that is simple day dreaming. Some of the greatest Mystics in the Catholic Church were very practical people, they were not fanciful and given to whimsy. St. Teresa of Avila could never be described as whimsical or fanciful this was a Saint who very much had her feet planted firmly on the ground!

St. Teresa was a very practical woman, who needed to travel long distances to make sure her Order was maintaining it's spiritual integrity and to encourage her fellow Sisters. This meant days of hard travel by horse and coach in often rough terrain and unpredictable weather, in a time where St. Teresa's own health was precarious. This strong willed Saint also had to deal with the residing Priests and Bishops of each Dioceses, which took a lot of skill in the diplomatic area of respecting and being obedient to those in positions of authority, while not compromising the Rule of Carmel. Teresa was a steely woman of immense courage and intellect, one could never term such a woman as 'fanciful' or given over to day dreams.

A true mystic is not one who becomes so coldly distant to those around them that their very persona is chilling and icy, that is not ascetics it is quietism, which the Church repudiates! A mystic is a soul who is passionately in love with God, and is not afraid to express this Divine Passion to all they meet, they are also not caught up in the daily travails of inconveniences but instead see beyond the complaint to the blessing that God is teaching them. For the sincere mystic lives in the present, they do not look back at all their yesterdays and pine for the 'good ole days', neither do they look ahead and grow anxious at what may happen to them in the future. Mystics are living in the present here and now and seizing each moment to live it to the full in an expression of God's Bountiful Love, which has been granted to them through Grace.

Mysticism is also not rigid or unbending in that the Spirit is ever moving ever flowing, so the soul who is taken up with love of God, simply surrenders to this Majestic Love and from the outpouring of God's Love in their soul it spills out to all who meet them. For the person who has surrendered themselves to God, and live fully present to the Divine do so by way of the Cross. But what sets the mystic aside from others is that the true Mystic does not run away from their cross but fully embrace it without allowing the taint of bitterness to corrupt or impede God's fiery holocaust of their imperfections. In affect they do not allow their emotions to lead them astray when situations can become fraught and difficult, nor do they grow faint and lose faith when God hides His Holy Presence from them, instead the Mystic waits upon God in all trust and Confidence not in their own goodness, but in God's Goodness and Divine Love.

And from their own sufferings the mystic learns compassion, faithfulness and empathy for those who also struggle on their faith journey. They also have been freed from running with their emotions to a more disciplined lifestyle of prayer, solitude and openness to those who suffer, in full knowledge of the purgative pain of learning the truth about oneself. God will reveal our hidden wounds and bear our own souls to an inner scrutiny that is excruciating as the Divine cleanses us of our imperfections and impediments that stand in the way of God's Grace. As one can see this is not for the faint hearted and indeed it does take a steely heart and resolve to allow God full reign in our souls without trying to control the outcome.

The true Mystic has a vibrant and joyous personality, they live lives of great passion for love of God alone, for they do not depend on the world to give them validation, but instead rely on God solely! This does not make them unaware of their immediate surroundings but instead leads them to a deeper discourse with the Divine, as they intercede for those who are in need, and for the salvation of souls.

The soul that is in love with God is a soul that journey's forth boldly but with utmost humility in full awareness as to what they have received from God, and with the innate responsibility to speak God's Truth without artifice. They exude an inner vitality and beauty though they may not have the requirements of superficial 'prettiness', but their spirit enlivens their face which brings forth vivacity in their expressions. Their personality is such that they draw people to them or they drive people away from them, not because they are fearsome, but because corruption cannot stand in the presence of that which has been purified by God.

But the most important component of any Mystic is a good sense of humour, the ascetic may walk around with long and gloomy faces, but not the Mystic, whose whole soul illuminates the indwelling Spirit and has gained the ability to laugh at the ridiculous without losing decorum.

And though many of our great Mystics had encountered divine visions, revelations and mystical union with and from God, still their souls spent more time in aridity than they did in the mystical realm of the supernatural elements of mysticism.

In short those who live a mystical life are those who no longer focus on the ego but are fully alive to the present and the opportunities that present itself in their day to day lives. They face life in all practicality whether it be fortuitous or in adversity, their beliefs are not shaken, as they combine prayer with a life of action, and walk with confidence of what they have been given and by whom....from a loving God.

Peace of Christ to you ALL

Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

Spirit of Courage

We are all called to Mission that is to proclaim the Good News to all we meet, not in a confrontational manner but to display the fruits of the Spirit so that all may see God working within your soul.

Many tend to think that evangelizing our Faith is the priority of our Priests and Religious and the missionaries sent out to far of lands. We forget that there is a responsibility for each of us to give the reasons for our joy as it says in Peter, "But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you. Do not be afraid or terrified with fear of them, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame."

But in order for us to spread the Good News, we must also live it, for to speak one thing and live another is to dishonour God and your calling, which will bring discredit not only to yourself but to all your brothers and sisters in Christ. So in order to be effective Christian examples we need to embrace and live obediently to what God teaches us through The Word and the Teachings of our Church. Anything less that this would make us hypocrites!

We have a responsibility to live fruitful lives of piety and obedience to one's station in life, for we are the face of Christ to all we meet in our communities and also within our families. Saint Francis of Assisi also warns us in our Christian walk, "It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching." Saint Francis recognised the need to not only speak our Faith but to live it for Faith is not only words it is also action, as this great Saint said, "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words."

As Christians we are called to be holy examples with a human face of the joy that we have received from God and then to live this Grace within our daily lives. This is not to say we will not make mistakes, indeed we shall make mistakes but it should make us compassionate to others as fellow travelers on an often perplexing path. But we must also learn that in order to live our Faith effectively we must embrace and speak Gods Truth, which takes courage. For we must never capitulate our beliefs in order to go along with the pervading and corrupting influences of society, just so that we wont be thought 'judgemental'.

When we look at the lives of the Saints we can see that, our Saints were made of steely material, they were tough people who lived lives of extraordinary love and compassion without compromising the Truth of God's Word or the Teachings of the Church. They were not wishy washy in order to attain friends, they stood firm on the Truth alone sometimes at the cost of their lives.

Yet our Saints are beloved by us all, we are full of admiration when we look at the courage they displayed and their heroic virtues which they lived unashamedly. These heroic figures were not afraid of name calling or threats to their lives; they were not swayed by the latest 'fad' or another way of 'enlightened thinking'. For these courageous people held the pearl of great price and they made no concessions to 'worldly ways', but instead loved God which expressed itself in charity to all they met. As St, Francis once again says, "While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart."

It behooves us all to take a closer look at how our Saints lived their Faith and their love of God and Church. These great Saints also understood that any good they did had its source in God, therefore what could they claim for themselves, nothing. As that great Saint Teresa of Avila reminds us, "To reach something good it is very useful to have gone astray, and thus acquire experience." Through her words Teresa is teaching that we have all failed but that is not the end but merely the beginning of gaining wisdom which is expressed in sincere sorrow for the offences we have committed.

When we look to Jesus and the Saints without the sentimentality that sometimes pervades our thinking we realise that the Saints were made of stern stuff. We also learn to live in true obedience to our Heavenly Father by following the example of our Lord and Saviour. And Saint Teresa of Avila bears this out when she said, "We shall never learn to know ourselves except by endeavoring to know God; for, beholding His greatness, we realize our own littleness; His purity shows us our foulness; and by meditating upon His humility we find how very far we are from being humble."

In order to be courageous and speak God's Truth unflinchingly we must understand that we are not placed on this earth to be amenable to every pervading fad or thought. As Christians we must not be fainthearted but instead to stand on Truth alone, lest we find ourselves living...a lie.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

Spirit of Humility

Humility has nothing to do with thinking lowly of ourselves that is low self esteem. To continually put one down has nothing to do with humility and everything to do with a focus on self in an attitude of negativity.

Sincere humility is when we acknowledge that we are nothing in and of ourselves, and recognition of how much we owe God. For we are not the source of goodness, yet we can do good works, we are not the source of hope, yet we live lives full of hope, we are also not the source of love, yet we love and long to be loved, where then is the source?

All that is good proceeds from the Triune Spirit, it is the indwelling Spirit that lights the inner sanctum of our souls which then illuminates our being and leads us to understand that nothing good can proceed from us till we have humbled ourselves before God.

The indwelling Spirit cannot find a home in the soul that is prideful for as Jesus says, "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me....I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid."

Until we recognise our poverty of soul our ego's will rule our thoughts and motives in a dysfunctional and deformed understanding of itself. True humility is when we surrender our hearts to the Divine which takes discipline for to live in the Divine Will is to die to our ego and live from the centre of a Christ filled heart.

The first understanding must come when we realise that humility does not have its source in God for God is the Divine Creator upon whom every knee shall bend and every head be bowed. The first steps towards humility is the understanding of God's Majestic and Awesome Love, and how undeserving we are to merit it, having nothing within ourselves to offer back. The second step is to accept this Love in full knowledge that we will never love God with equality; therefore we are humbled at such a Love that came at such a price.

The third step is to discipline our hearts and souls to be mindful of Christ's Teaching and to be obedient as the Son was obedient to the Father, for we too are not here to do our will but to do the Fathers Will. Until we realise that we have much to be humble about, then our spiritual life will remain a constant struggle of ego vs immolation of our self will. As was revealed to St. Faustina of Divine Mercy, "The prayer of a humble and loving soul disarms the anger of My Father and draws down an ocean of blessings.... Although My greatness is beyond understanding, I commune only with those who are little. I demand of you a childlike spirit."

A childlike spirit does not mean we must behave childishly but it does mean that we must put all our trust in God's Goodness not for what He can give us, but because God is not like man therefore He will never desert His children not even when we are unfaithful to Him, this is a tremendous Love that has been bestowed upon us...how could any not be humbled at such a Love?

It is the humble soul that God finds favour with in that He can work unrestricted within it and then transform the soul to be a living reflection of the Son, who suffered all the inequities of the world in our place. Until we recognise how strong our sense of self is we will never progress towards perfection. As St. Therese instructs us in these words, "I understood that to become a Saint one had to suffer much, seek out always the most perfect thing to do, and forget self. I understood, too, there were many degrees of perfection and each soul was free to respond to the advances of our Lord, to do little or much for Him, in a word, to choose among the sacrifices He was asking. Then, as in the days of my childhood, I cried out: My God I choose all! I don't want to be a saint by halves, I'm not afraid to suffer for You, I fear only one thing: to keep my own will; so take it, for I choose all 'that You will!"

What must we do to become humble, as St. Therese just said it is not to do things by halves, it is to live obedient to Christ's Commands. It is then that the indwelling Spirit can work within us and illuminate our minds to live with a sense of immense gratitude for a love that is totally undeserved and is pure Gift.

The knowledge that we cannot return God's Love in equal measure should humble us all, for who is man that God thinks of him?

Peace of Christ to ALL

Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.