Pastor’s Letter: September 1, 2019

Pastor’s Letter: September 1, 2019

30 Aug 2019 | Posted by: chadmin

Dear friend,

People often give advice that made an impact in one’s own life. Preachers often talk about that which they feel they need to hear. I often find myself talking about the need for and the beauty of the virtue of humility. It must mean I need to work on humility! While we can all get repetitive with what we say and what we pay attention to, the Bible speaks to all aspects of the human condition.

The first reading from the Book of Sirach this week gives us some important themes for reflection. On the virtue of humility, Sirach says, “Conduct your affairs with humility,” “humble yourself the more, the greater you are” and “seek not things beyond your strength.” Humility is often called the most important virtue, the virtue of the saint. Humility is often misunderstood as weakness or a negative lowliness. Humility is actually authenticity. Humility is knowing one’s gifts and living within those gifts. All sorts of sin comes from failed humility. The majority of the sin flows from a lack of contentment with one’s self. The Bible is clear that we are all created with certain gifts and talents that differ from others. It is not pride to recognize personal gifts and talents; the pride enters when one views oneself has having greater value than others. While we have different abilities, the equal dignity of the human person is not increased or decreased based on observable worldly talents. Gifts and talents, when seen through the eyes of humility, are opportunities for service and successful living within the culture and economy. When one has an honest self-assessment, one realizes what is beyond one’s strength or ability. Humility helps one not grasp after the gifts and talents of others. We are always called to do our best, but our best within our God given abilities. When we learn with time that we possess talents not held by others, humility encourages us to use them for the betterment of others.

The passage from Sirach this week ends with “alms atone for sins.” Humility as the virtue of authenticity helps us realize the times of inauthentic behavior. A sin is an offense against God and neighbor. Alms are the letting go of personal possessions that serves others and decreases our attachment to worldly things. Atonement is the making amends for a wrong. The Bible encourages us to see that letting go of anything  we might be attached to, with a sense of pride, allows one to enter a state of humility and thus receive forgiveness. While only God forgives sin, the human heart either allows or rejects the process of forgiveness. A heart disposed to give alms, is a heart that is ready to let go of past sin and live the humble life of a saint. The process of letting go of money or possessions, for the good of another, can help us experience spiritual freedom. May the Lord guide our hearts to humility, in order to rightly celebrate our individual gifts as opportunities to serve, while letting go of past mistakes. Have a great week.

God bless,

Father David