Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church

I live in Houston, Texas, and have just gone through Hurricane Beryl. We lost power for four days. During this time, I thought about the world and considered how blest and wealthy I was compared to the rest of the world. I am well into the top 1% of the people on earth. So, how do I enter His kingdom? In the Gospel, Jesus says, “For men, this is impossible. But for God, all things are possible.”

Where do I stand in humility with the rest of the world? – possibly in the lowest 1%. Saint Mother Teresa listed things that we can work on to become humbler. To list a few of the more challenging on her list: Speak as little as possible about yourself, do not dwell on the faults of others, accept insults and injuries, and be courteous and delicate even when provoked by someone.

We, who have sufficient resources, must throw ourselves into the mercy of God to enter his Kingdom. It is not impossible for a God who loves us and wants us to succeed.

Saint Bernard, Doctor of the Church, also advises on humility through the Eucharist. “He regularly emphasized the personal nature of God as revealed in Jesus Christ, our call to mystical union with Him, the need for humility, the benefits of asceticism, and the central role that the Blessed Virgin Mary must play in our lives.” (from My Catholic Life)

Prayer:

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, deliver me from the desire of being admired, extolled, honored, praised, preferred, consulted, and approved. O Jesus, deliver me from the fear of being humiliated, despised, rebuked, calumniated, forgotten, ridiculed, wronged, and suspected. Amen. (based on Saint Mother Teresa’s list – For the entire list and litany prayer, See ChurchPoP)