The Center of the World - The Mass
It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels. –Saint Augustine
As the world continues to rage, I am reminded that June is the month of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts. This is a month to really lean into prayer and resist the temptation to rage with the world or attempt to fix things out of our control. Instead we should remember what Jesus taught us.
You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48
We fight intelligently when we remember that we fight powers and principalities not men. If we fight the wrong enemy, we get lost in the battle.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12
Christian, we must be different. We must claim our inheritance.
“Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth” Matthew 5:5
Do not mistake prayer for inaction, for prayer is more powerful than we know.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16
Do not mistake humility for weakness, it is quite the opposite, humility calls forth God’s grace and power. God sees all that is happening.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7
In due time. In God’s time we will be lifted up by remaining humble not by falling into wrath for it is a mark of Satan.
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21
Make Mary your Mother. Let her heart reign in yours. Listen to her. The love of God reigns in her heart. She wants to teach us how to live like that and draw us closer to her Son.
When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:26-27
This month of June do not let the secular world dictate what is truth and celebrate sin, purge it from your own heart and show the world something different.
Allow God to deliver you from your desires that are not of Him and from fear of anyone or anything but Him.
Litany of Humility
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, Jesus. (repeat after lines below)
From the desire of being loved…
From the desire of being extolled …
From the desire of being honored …
From the desire of being praised …
From the desire of being preferred to others…
From the desire of being consulted …
From the desire of being approved …
From the fear of being humiliated …
From the fear of being despised…
From the fear of suffering rebukes …
From the fear of being calumniated …
From the fear of being forgotten …
From the fear of being ridiculed …
From the fear of being wronged …
From the fear of being suspected …
That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. (repeat after lines below)
That others may be esteemed more than I …
That, in the opinion of the world,
others may increase and I may decrease …
That others may be chosen and I set aside …
That others may be praised and I unnoticed …
That others may be preferred to me in everything…
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…