Tag: luke 18:9-14

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on MEEKNESS, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, St Francis de Sales, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 17 August – Wisdom on Humility

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 17 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Hyacinth OP (1185-1257) ) Confessor – 1 Corinthians 12:2-11 – Luke 18:9-14 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled
and he who humbles himself, shall be exalted.”

Luke 18:14

“The one who requests less than he deserves from God
will surely obtain more than he deserves.   
This is clearly shown by the tax-collector
who requested forgiveness but obtained justification.   
And the thief merely requested
to be remembered in His Kingdom
but he inherited Paradise!”

St John Climacus (c525-606)

te-one-who-requests-less-st-john-climacus-30march-2019 and 21 march 2020

“The most perfect degree of humility
is to take pleasure in contempt and humiliations.
Contempt suffered patiently,
is worth more before God,
for love of Him, than
a thousand fastings and disciplines.”

“Humility is a Descending Charity
and Charity is an Ascending Humility.”

“Humility helps us to serenely receive afflictions,
knowing that we deserve them
and to receive blessings with reverence,
knowing that they are undeserved.”

“Let us not lower our eyes
without humiliating the heart , at the same time;
let others not think
we want the last place,
without truly desiring it!”

“Humility makes our lives,
acceptable to God,
meekness, makes us
acceptable to men.”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of Charity

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 17 August – ‘ … For man’s lowliness, is his gratitude and, God’s greatness, is His Mercy. …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 17 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Hyacinth OP (1185-1257) ) Confessor – 1 Corinthians 12:2-11 – Luke 18:9-14 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled and he who humbles himself, shall be exalted.” – Luke 18:14

REFLECTION – “Before the Lord Jesus’ coming, people drew all their glory from themselves. But He came as Man that the glory of man might grow less and the glory of God grow greater. For He came without sin and found us all to be sinners. If He came to lose our sins, it is because God is merciful, so let man take note of it. For man’s lowliness, is his gratitude and, God’s greatness, is His Mercy.

If He came to forgive us our sins, then let man take thought of his lowliness and God exercise His Mercy. “He must increase but I must decrease” (Jn 3:30). That is to say, He it is Who must give and it is for me to receive. He must have the glory and I must acknowledge it. Man should understand his place, let him acknowledge God and hear what the Apostle Paul says to the high-minded and proud man, who claims to be exalted: “What do you possess that you have not received? But if you have received it, why are you boasting as though you have not received it?” (1 Cor 4:7). So, let the man who would call his own that which is not his own, understand that he has received it and make himself small, for it is good for him that God should be glorified in him. Therefore, let him grow less in himself that, in him, God may grow greater.” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermons on Saint John’s Gospel 14:5)

PRAYER – God, Who gladden us with the annual feast of blessed Hyacinth, Thy Confessor, mercifully grant that, while honouring the anniversary of his death, we may also imitate his deeds. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRIDE, The INCARNATION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 28 July – ‘ … For man’s lowliness, is his gratitude and, God’s greatness, is His Mercy.

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 28 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Sts Nazarius and Celus, Martyrs and St Pope Innocent I (Died 417) Confessor – Pentecost X – 1 Corinthians 12:2-11; Luke 18:9-14 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled and he who humbles himself, shall be exalted.” – Luke 18:14

REFLECTION – “Before the Lord Jesus’ coming, people drew all their glory from themselves. But He came as man that the glory of man might grow less and the glory of God grow greater. For He came without sin and found us all to be sinners. If He came to loose our sins it is because God is merciful, so let man take note of it. For man’s lowliness, is his gratitude and, God’s greatness, is His Mercy.

If He came to forgive us our sins, then let man take thought of his lowliness and God exercise His Mercy. “He must increase but I must decrease” (Jn 3:30). That is to say, He it is Who must give and it is for me to receive. He must have the glory and I must acknowledge it. Man should understand his place, let him acknowledge God and hear what the Apostle Paul says to the high-minded and proud man, who claims to be exalted: “What do you possess that you have not received? But if you have received it, why are you boasting as though you have not received it?” (1 Cor 4:7). So, let the man who would call his own that which is not his own, understand that he has received it and make himself small, for it is good for him that God should be glorified in him. Therefore, let him grow less in himself that, in him, God may grow greater.” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermons on Saint John’s Gospel 14:5)

PRAYER – May the Martyrdom of Thy Saints Nazarius, Celsus and Victor, give us courage, O Lord and may it give us a help to counter our weakness. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God forever, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in CHRIST the JUDGE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on PRIDE, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 14 August – ‘ … Never place yourself above anyone, not even great sinners. …’ St Basil the Great

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One Minute Reflection – 14 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – The 10th Sunday after Pentecost – 1 Cor.inthians 12:2-11, Luke 18:9-14

“I tell you, this man went back to his home, justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled but he who humbles himself, will be exalted” – Luke 18:14

REFLECTION – “The stern Pharisee, who in his overweening pride, not only boasted of himself but also discredited the tax collector, in the Presence of God, made his justice void by being guilty of pride. Instead of the Pharisee, the tax collector went down justified because he had given glory to God, the Holy One. He did not dare lift his eyes but sought only to plead for mercy. He accused himself by his posture, by striking his breast and by entertaining no other motive, except propitiation.

Be on your guard, therefore and bear in min, this example of severe loss, sustained through arrogance. The one guilty of insolent behaviour suffered the loss of his justice and forfeited his reward, by his bold self-reliance. He was judged inferior to a humble man and a sinner because, in his self-exaltation, he did not await the judgement of God but pronounced it himself.

Never place yourself above anyone, not even great sinners. Humility often saves a sinner, who has committed many terrible transgressions!” – St Basil the Great (329-379) Bishop of Caesarea, Father and Doctor of the Church (On Humility)

PRAYER – O God, Thou manifest Thy power, particularly in forbearance and pity, show us Thy mercy again and again, so that hastening toward Thy promises, we may become partakers of the blessings of Heaven. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, LENT 2021, LENTEN THOUGHTS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on Lukewarmness, QUOTES on PRIDE, The WORD, Thomas a Kempis

Day Twenty Five of our Lenten Journey – 13 March – ‘How very little should I esteem anything that seems good in me!’

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Day Twenty Five of our Lenten Journey – 13 March – Saturday of the Third Week of Lent, Readings: Hosea 6: 1-6, Psalms 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21, Luke 18: 9-14

Imitating Christ with Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)

In You is the source of life
and in Your Light Lord, we see light
Psalm 35(36)

‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’ – Luke 18:13

YOU thunder forth Your judgements over me, Lord.
You shake all my bones with fear and trembling and my soul is very much afraid.
I stand in awe as I consider that the heavens are not pure in Your sight.
If You found wickedness in the angels and did not spare them, what will become of me? Stars have fallen from heaven, and I — I who am but dust — how can I be presumptuous? They whose deeds seemed worthy of praise have fallen into the depths and I have seen those who ate the bread of angels delighting themselves with the husks of swine.

There is no holiness, then, if You withdraw Your hand, Lord.
There is no wisdom if You cease to guide, no courage if You cease to defend.
No chastity is secure if You do not guard it.
Our vigilance avails nothing if Your holy watchfulness does not protect us.
Left to ourselves, we sink and perish but visited by You, we are lifted up and live.
We are truly unstable but You make us strong.
We grow lukewarm but You inflame us.
Oh, how humbly and lowly should I consider myself!
How very little should I esteem anything, that seems good in me!
How profoundly should I submit to Your unfathomable judgments, Lord, where I find myself to be but nothing!

O immeasurable weight!
O impassable sea, where I find myself to be nothing but bare nothingness!
Where, then, is glory’s hiding place?
Where can there be any trust in my own virtue?
All vainglory is swallowed up in the depths of Your judgments upon me.

What is all flesh in Your sight?
Shall the clay glory against Him that formed it?
How can he, whose heart is truly subject to God, be lifted up by vainglory?
The whole world will not make him proud, whom Truth has subjected to itself.
Nor shall he who has placed all his hope in God, be moved by the tongues of flatterers. For behold, even they who speak are nothing, they will pass away with the sound of their words but the truth of the Lord, remains forever.
(Book 3 Ch 12)

Posted in QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The HEART, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 13 March – It is in the heart that perfection lies; for love is the supreme law.” Luke 18:9-14

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 13 March – Saturday of the Third Week of Lent, Readings Hosea 6: 1-6, Psalms 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21, Luke 18: 9-14

“…For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled but he who humbles himself, will be exalted” – Luke 18:14

REFLECTION – “You know what our divine Saviour, who is very truth and goodness, said to His disciples: “Unless your justice abound more than that (…) of the Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:20). These words are truly those of Christ. He who would not condemn the woman taken in adultery; who vouchsafed to speak to the Samaritan woman and reveal heavenly mysteries to her in spite of her guilty life; He who consented to eat with the publicans, socially disqualified as sinners; who allowed Magdalen to wash His feet and wipe them with the hairs if her head; He who was so “meek and humble of heart” (Mt 11:29), publicly hurled anathemas at the Pharisees: “Woe to you (…) hypocrites, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 23:13). (…)

Call to mind the Pharisee whom Christ depicts going up to the Temple to pray. What is his prayer? “My God, I am a man altogether irreproachable; I fast, I give tithes (Lk 18:11-12); You cannot find me in fault on any point; You ought to be proud of me.” And in the literal sense, what he said was true – he did observe all these things.

However, what judgement does Jesus pass upon him? This man went out of the Temple without being justified, his heart empty of God’s grace. Why this condemnation? Because the unhappy man glorified himself, for his good actions and placed all his perfection, in merely outward observance, without troubling himself about the inward dispositions of his heart. Therefore, our Lord tells us: “Unless your justice is greater than that of the Pharisees, you will have no part in the Kingdom of heaven.” (…) It is in the heart that perfection lies; for love is the supreme law.” – Bl Columba Marmion (1858-1923) Abbot – The “instruments of good works” (Christ, the Ideal of the Monk)

PRAYER – We turn to You our God and Father and seek Your comfort and assurance. Jesus, our Lord, Your Son, taught us how to pray in humility and all we need to be and do, to reach You. Be patient good Father, as we grow by Your grace. May the prayers of the Mother of Christ, help us to attain our home Through Jesus our Lord, in union with the Holy Spirit, God now and forever, amen.

Posted in LENT 2020, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on SANCTITY, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 21 March – ‘…The basis for holiness…’

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One Minute Reflection – 21 March – Saturday of the Third Week of Lent, Readings: Hosea 6:1-6, Psalm 51:3-4, 18-21, Luke 18:9-14 and the Memorial of St Enda of Aran

“…For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled but he who humbles himself, will be exalted.”… Luke 18:14luke-18-14-everuone-who-exalts-himself-shall-be-humbled 21 March 2020

REFLECTION – “It is of capital importance that you emphasise what is the basis for holiness and the foundation of goodness.   I mean, to talk about the virtue of which Jesus presents himself explicitly as the model – humility (cf. Mt 11:29).
Inner humility, more inner than outward.
Recognise who you truly are – a nothing, something quite miserable, weak, full of defects, capable of turning good into bad, to let go the good, for the bad, to attribute to yourself the good and to justify yourself in doing bad and for love of evil, to despise the One who is the Supreme Good.
Never go to bed before having first examined your conscience to consider how you spent your day.   Turn all your thoughts towards the Lord and consecrate to Him your own person, as well as all Christians.   Then offer to His glory, the sleep you will get, without ever forgetting your guardian angel, who is always at your side.” … Saint Pio of Pietralcina “Padre Pio” (1887-1968) – Buona Giornatahumility - padre pio - 21 march 2020

PRAYER – We turn to You our God and Father and seek Your comfort and assurance. Jesus, our Lord, Your Son, taught us how to pray in humility and all we need to be and do, to reach You.   Be patient good Father, as we grow by Your grace.   May the prayers of St Enda, be heard together with the Mother of Christ and of Humility, as they pray on our behalf.   Through Jesus our Lord, in union with the Holy Spirit, God now and forever, amen.st enda of aran pray for us 21 march 2020

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SIN, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 27 October – ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’

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One Minute Reflection – 27 October – Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Luke 18:9–14

‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ … Luke 18:13

REFLECTION – “The Gospel of the two men praying in the temple, the Pharisee and the tax collector, reveals to what kind of prayer penetrates to God.
We notice a difference even in their respective postures.   The one stands “with unbowed head” as if the temple belongs to him, while the other “keeps his distance,” as if he has crossed the threshold of a house in which he really does not belong.
The first one prays “to himself,” really, not even praying to God but reviewing for himself the list of his virtues assuming that, when God Himself notices them, He will respect them and marvel at them.   Moreover, this man catalogues his virtues as a means of setting himself off from “other men,” none of whom have attained his level of perfection. He is travelling the road of “self-discovery,” which is precisely the path of “loss of God.” The other man can only discover sin in himself, can only find himself devoid of God, which, as he pleads, “be merciful to me,” turns into an empty place for God to occupy.  No-one, whose ultimate goal is his own perfection, will ever find God.
Anyone who has the humility to permit God’s perfection to take effect in his emptiness – not by being passive but by working with the talent He gives him – will be considered a “justified” person in the sight of God.” … Cardinal Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905-1988)luke 18 13 be merciful to me a sinner pharisee and tax collector - the first one prays to himself hans urs von blathasar 27 oct 2019 

PRAYER – Lord God, deepen our faith, strengthen our hope, enkindle our love and so that we may obtain what You promise, make us love what You command.   Mary, holy Mother, teach us complete humility and trust, help us to be a total fiat as you are.   We make our prayer, through Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for all eternity, amen.blessed virgin mother mary pray for us - 27 oct 2019.jpg