This season of Advent I have been reading In Conversation with God each day and it has been a wonderful prayer tool. Fernandez speaks often about virtues, especially the virtue of humility. Today, the words which struck me were,"The virtue of humility, so evident in Our Lady's life, is truth, the true recognition of what we are and are worth in the eyes of God and of our fellow men. It is also an emptying of ourselves to allow God to work in us with his grace."
Last week I went to confession, which is an exercise in humility. Before I went I of course examined my conscience and thought about what I am like and what I am worth to God. I realized that I often fall short and so that is why I go to confession. It amazes me that so many people never go to confession. The most common reason I hear is that "I really don't do anything that bad." Well, neither do most of us who go to confession. I certainly am not out in the world murdering, being adulterous, or stealing. But, almost every day, at some point, I realize that I am operating out of my will and am full of myself instead of allowing God to fill me with his grace and work through me.
It is a lack of humility which causes me to sin and I believe it is a lack of humility which causes people to stay away from the sacrament of confession. It is only in humility that I can look at myself, search my soul, examine my conscience and say, "yes, I have sinned and need forgiveness." The grace from the sacrament is so powerful and affirming, such a reminder that by emptying ourselves we make room for God's grace.
And by this grace we come to recognize who we are and how God has given us everything. As we approach the birth of our Savior, let us say in humility and trust, "Come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord."
3 comments:
Deanne, Have you heard of this book? is it different than the one you are reading?
"Oprah is pushing this book.
If you have children or grandchildren, work with children at church, or you have neighborhood children whose parents you know, please take note of the information below and pass it along to others. Schools are distributing this book to children through the Scholastic Book Club.
The name of the book is Conversations with God.. James Dobson talked about this book twice this s week. It is devastating. Parents, churches and Christian schools need to be aware of it. Please pass this information on to church/e-mail addresses, Parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, friends.
Please pay special attention not only to what your kids watch on TV, in movie theaters, on the internet, and the music they listen to, but also be alert regarding the books they read.
Two books are, Conversations with God and Conversations with God for Teens, written by Neale D. Walsch. They sound harmless enough by their titles alone. The books have been on the New York Times best sellers list for a number of weeks, and they make truth of the statement, "Don't judge a book by its cover or title.""
No, the books I am reading are from the Catholic Company, In Conversation with God is the full title and there are different volumes for the liturgical seasons. I have not seen this other book at all. Since my children are older now and I'mnot DRE I am somewhat out of that loop.
No, the books I am reading are from the Catholic Company, In Conversation with God is the full title and there are different volumes for the liturgical seasons. I have not seen this other book at all. Since my children are older now and I'mnot DRE I am somewhat out of that loop.
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