Advent Meditation~By St. Alphonsus de Liguori (December 20)

[Dawn Marie]

THE MYSTERIES OF THE FAITH

THE INCARNATION

Discourse by Saint Alphonsus de Liguori

December 20, 2014

Discourse 21

 

Jesus Christ, by choosing for Himself so humble a birth, so despicable a life, and so ignominious a death, has ennobled and taken away all bitterness from contempt and opprobrium. It is for this that the saints in this world were always so fond and even desirous of being despised; they seemed not to be able to desire or seek for anything but to be despised and trodden underfoot for the love of Jesus Christ. When the Divine Word came upon this earth, well was that prophecy of Isaiah fulfilled:  “In the dens where dragons dwelt before shall rise up the verdure of the reed and the bulrush.”  That where the demons, the spirits of pride dwelt there, at the sight of the humility of Jesus Christ, should arise the spirit of humility.

“The verdure of the reed signifies humility,” says St. Ugo, commenting on this passage; the humble man is empty in his own eyes; the humble are not full of themselves, as the proud are, but empty, considering what is the truth, that all they have is the gift of God.

 

From this we may well understand that a humble soul is as dear to God as the proud heart is odious in His eyes. But is it possible, says St. Bernard, for people to be proud after seeing the life of Jesus Christ?  “Though the Divine Majesty annihilates Itself, a worm lifts itself up in pride!”  Is it possible that a mere worm, loaded with sins, should be proud, when he sees the God of Infinite Majesty and purity humble Himself so much, in order to teach us to be humble!

 

But let it be known that proud people do not get on with God. St. Augustine thus warns us:  “Lift yourself up and God will depart from you; humble yourself, and God will come to you.”  The Lord flies from the proud, but, on the contrary, God cannot despise a heart that humbles itself, even though it should be a sinful one:  “A contrite and humble heart, O God, Thou will not despise.”  God has promised to hear all who pray to Him:  “Ask and it shall be given you . . . For everyone that asketh receiveth.”  But He has declared that He will not listen to the proud, as St. James tells us:  “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”  He resisteth the prayers of the proud, and does not listen to them, but He cannot deny any grace to the humble, whatever they may ask.  In fact, St. Teresa said that the greatest graces she had ever received were those which were granted her when she more particularly humbled herself in the presence of God. The prayer of the humble penetrates into Heaven by its own efficacy, without needing any one to present it; and it does not depart without obtaining from God that which it desires:  “The prayer of him that humbleth himself shall pierce the clouds, . . . and he will not depart until the Most High beholds.”