96. Вода с высоких гор на низкие места течет

We see that water flows from the mountains to low places. Thus, the grace of God from the Heavenly Father is poured out on humble hearts. But let’s look at the properties of a humble heart and see this truth. 1) A humble heart sees in itself its sins, damnation, disaster, meanness and insignificance, and from all this it recognizes its unworthiness. Such a heart does not dare to lift its eyes to heaven and speak much to God, but beats its chest, and, sighing, falls before God and prays: “God! Be merciful to me, a sinner!” , as the publican did, (Luke 18:13) he judges himself, unworthy to look at God and draw closer to Him. Peter showed such humility when he said to Christ: “Depart from me, Lord! Because I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). 2) A humble heart avoids all rank, honor and glory. And if he needs to be in some kind of honor and dignity, then with extreme reluctance and for the sake of obedience he accepts it, since he sees his ignorance and unworthiness. 3) A humble heart shows obedience to its superiors; it does not despise its equals or inferiors, but treats everyone as if it were its brethren, even if it were more worthy than them and had more talents than them, for it looks not at its talents, but at its own meanness, and recognizes that the gifts are not its own, but those of others, and it is only the receptacle, and not their master, but the meanness and insignificance is its own, like that of all people, for every person himself is poor and wretched. And therefore he treats the low ones as one of the low ones. 4) If he offends someone through ignorance and carelessness, as happens to every person, he is not ashamed to fall before him and ask for forgiveness, even if the offended person is below him or his subordinate. O sweet sight when a superior person bows down to a inferior person and asks for forgiveness! 5) A humble heart considers itself unworthy of any good deed and worthy of all evil. Therefore, when he is in misfortune, he does not complain or be indignant, but generously endures, considering himself worthy of it. 6) When someone offends in word or deed, he does not get angry with the offender, much less take revenge on him, because he considers himself worthy of it. 7) When he sees or hears someone sinning, he does not condemn him, for he sees that he himself is the same sinner. 8) Whatever good and blessing he receives from God, he sees that he receives it for nothing, without any merit of his own, and by His grace alone, because he sees his unworthiness, that he is unworthy of all that he receives. And therefore he sincerely thanks God for everything he receives. 9) Whatever good he does, he attributes it all to God, for he sees his own weakness and insignificance, and that on his own, like a dry tree, he cannot create any good fruit without God’s help. 10) In the meeting, at lunch and at dinner, he sits “in the last place” (Luke 14:10). 11) He does not seek a better house, better clothing, better food, etc., but is content with what he has. And he considers himself unworthy of what he has. And how can one desire and seek the best when he recognizes himself as unworthy of even what he has? You see, Christian, some images of a humble heart. A stream of God's grace flows onto such a heart. God looks upon such a heart with mercy. Let me, Lord, know myself and see my wretchedness, poverty and insignificance, and I will have a humble heart. “Look, hear me, O Lord my God! Enlighten my eyes, lest I fall asleep into death; Yes, not when my enemy says: “Be strong against him” (Ps. 12:4-5). A man is poor and wretched, but he is all the poorer and wretched because he does not see his poverty and wretchedness. He thinks he is white, but he is black, like a raven. He thinks he sees and knows everything, but he is blind and knows nothing. He thinks that he is rich, but he is truly poor and wretched. He thinks that he is worthy, but he is dishonest, he has become like an animal. He thinks he is kind, but is actually angry. He thinks he's healthy, but in reality he's relaxed. He thinks that he is happy, but he is poorer and more wretched than any creature. Sin made him that way. "God! What is man, that You have revealed yourself to him, or the son of man, that You think about him” * (Ps. 143:3). But the poorer a person is, the greater and more amazing the grace of God appeared to him. God Himself became man for man's sake. “Praise the Lord, O my soul” (Ps. 146:1). The beginning of well-being is to know one’s ill-being, just as the beginning of health is to know one’s weakness. Christian! Know and admit your poverty, and you will prosper because you will be humble. “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble... Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted” (1 Peter 5:5; Luke 18:14). Translation by P. Yungerov – Editorial office of “The ABC of Faith” You might be interested in: