The Joy of God by Mary David

Author:Mary David
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

MERCY

It seems to me the most absurd thing in the world to be upset because I am weak and distracted and blind and constantly make mistakes! What else do I expect! Does God love me any less because I can’t make myself a saint by my own power and in my own way? He loves me more because I am so clumsy and helpless without him – and underneath what I am he sees me as I will one day be by his pure gift and that pleases him – and therefore it pleases me and I attend to his great love which is my joy.

Thomas Merton1

The publican compares himself to no one.2 He stands way down in the last place, the place of his own weakness. He knows his weakness and is reconciled to it, something impossible for the proud Pharisee. He has eyes for God alone. He has eyes for himself only to the extent that he sees himself in God’s light, which means he knows his weakness as well as God’s mercy. He is not totally crushed by sin. He can be fully himself with God and God can be fully himself with him: mercy and overwhelming love. By gazing down he is climbing up.

Accepting reality with all its limitations in oneself and others, being creative with weakness and imperfections, knowing how to use them to grow and deepen: this seems to be what humility is all about. In a mysterious way these difficulties, imperfections, trials, which reveal our weakness are where we find real human life in all its profundity. We learn to live with them, and gradually we realise that they are not as threatening as we thought they were – indeed these things open us up to God’s love and power. It is just here that our deepest strength and our possibilities for growth lie hidden.

To live in humility is to live by grace; it is to look to God as the publican did. Kierkegaard recognised this when he wrote that the greatest Christian heresy is to believe that the opposite of sin is virtue. No, the opposite of sin is grace.3

*

It doesn’t necessarily follow that positive spiritual development will go hand in hand with psychological improvement. Such an improvement is possible but not absolutely necessary. It cannot be an absolute criterion. There can be a deep commitment to Christ and a desire to do his will despite psychological weakness.

This is where grace comes into its own and Christ’s power reveals itself in weakness. Despite their fragilities, the Lord is manifesting himself. Indeed, such persons can be precious, to show us how the Lord reveals himself in the weak, and not in the strong and mighty. On the other hand, in their humiliation, the Lord may be pleased by the way they are thrown back on him. Everything works for the good of those who love God – and this includes the obstacles, the troubles, of their psychological make-up.

*

First you must remember that these feelings are not you, nor do they represent the whole story.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.