Thanksgiving

We should often give thanks for this marvellous call which we have received from God, with a real, deep sense of gratitude, closely united to humility, which, in the soul of each of us, must be the first consequence of the light bestowed by the Lord’s infinite mercy. Quid autem habes quod non accepisti?(1 Cor 4:7): What do you have that you have not received from God?

Humility

But not only that. Si dixerimus quoniam peccatum non habemus, ipsi nos seducimus, et veritas in nobis non est (1 John 1:8); if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. On the other hand, if we are humble, if we are truthful, the failings that spring from human weakness and the difficulties that may come our way will never prevent God’s light and love from dwelling in us. Only in this way will we be acting as faithful children of the light, objects of God’s continual mercy and effective instruments of his will.

Trust

Humility like that will nurture a great sense of confidence in our souls, and radiate it around us: We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1-2).

Loyalty and faithfulness

My children, we need humility and confidence to look at the path God has marked out for us, understand it correctly, and follow it faithfully. That sort of faithfulness – total commitment – will constantly give us the certainty that we really have found Christ, that with him we are fulfilling his Father’s will, and that our filial response to the vocation we have received is genuine.

And we hear St Paul’s words: that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth (Eph 3:17-18) of this mystery: we will know, in all its dimensions, what it is to live with Christ.