Charity and Humility
Divine Intimacy #259
Let humility guard charity, and may charity increase in accordance with the measure of Your will.
As mentioned in previous postings, Charity is the highest virtue, central to the Christian life, and the greatest gift of the Holy Spirit. Are you in a position to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit? If you are not vivified in Him, you are not in a position to receive them.
What I mean is, are you in good standing with the church? Are you living a life that reflects the precepts and commandments? Thou shall not have other gods; thou shall not use God’s name in vain; remember the Sabbath day; honor your parents; do not kill; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness against your neighbor or his wife. Also, the precepts: Go to Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation; confess serious sin at least once a year; receive Holy Communion at least once a year during the Easter season; keep the days of fast and abstinence (Lenten season); and provide for the needs of the Church. This is our faith; failing to keep these keeps the Holy Spirit from sending us the gifts we need. You may not agree because you may not have known. However, once you know, you know.
Humility is the virtue that grounds us; it reminds us that we are dust and that to dust we shall return. It clears the ground for grace and charity. We can’t just go through the motions, as in the parable Jesus told about the Pharisee and the publican who prayed (Luke 18:9-14). We have to ask: are we praising God in the easy and hard things of life, or do we praise ourselves? How much pride must we lay down before we choose Christ fully?
God prefers humility, even in things done poorly, rather than pride in things done well. Look into your heart and see what lies there. God already has.