I want to pre-note this writing by thanking you for taking time to respond to what I say. A Catholic Moment, in some ways, is an “international classroom.” We learn from one another and pray for one another. Your responses encourage, inspire, and correct what we write. Some of you share enhancements on an idea, others talk about how the Holy Spirit touched you through a writing, and still others correct us when we get off track—as last week when Mary commented on what I said about celebrity suicides.
I look forward to reading your comments. They are a blessing to me. Through them the Holy Spirit touches my heart. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we mentioned the country we live in when we share with one another? We are truly a universal Church! Let me add that when someone submits a prayer request, I pray for them immediately—and I suspect other readers do so as well.
Writing is a ministry of the Holy Spirit. Responding to what is written and sharing one’s own insights is also a work of the Holy Spirit. We all participate in the teaching ministry of Jesus Christ.
That said, let’s reflect on our first reading today (1 Kings 21:17-29).
The evil king, Ahab, was a murderer and a thief. Through the prophet Elijah, God confronted him with his sin and told him of what his end would be.
“In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, the dogs shall lick up your blood, too.”
Elijah went on to say:
“Because you have given yourself up to doing evil in the Lord’s sight, I am bringing evil upon you. I will destroy you and will cut off every male in Ahab’s line…”
In a surprise twist, this evil man repented.
“When Ahab heard these words, he tore his garments and put on sackcloth, and went subdued…Then the Lord said (to Elijah): ‘Have you seen that Ahab has humbled himself before me? Since has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his time.”
Notice it says that Ahab humbled himself “before me.” It was not just a public apology to get the people to like him again. It was a gesture of prayer before the Lord of all that is. He admitted that he was a creature whose ego had been given full reign, and so he became as clay again, submitting himself to the hand of the divine “Potter.” Though Ahab was steeped in the worst of sins, the heart of God was moved, and he showed him mercy.
Our sins are small compared to Ahab’s. Nevertheless we are called to follow his example and humble ourselves often before the throne of God. St. John reminded us in his first letter that we are all sinners, and if we say differently, we are liars (1 John 1:8).
This is not cause for going on a guilt trip or putting ourselves down. God is in the business of building up our self-esteem, not making us feel bad about ourselves. He is in the business of wiping away our guilt, not adding to it. Humility comes from the word “humus”—“dirt.” We remind ourselves that we, like Adam, are clay that was brought to life by the breath of God. All we are and all that we achieved are the work of his hand—it is his breath working through us. We fall short in “what we have done and what we have failed to do.” So we go before our merciful Abba, and present ourselves “just as we are” to his smiling face—asking him to pour his mercy into those parts of us that generate pride. If he could be moved by the prayer of Ahab, think how he is moved so much more by the humble prayer of one of his adopted children!
Remember how St. Therese of Lisieux rejoiced when she detected a sin in herself. This gave her yet another opportunity to run to her Abba, get another hug from him, a reassurance that he still loved her, and a dose of healing mercy. After all, don’t most of our sins spring from those parts of us that do not feel loved enough? And isn’t our prideful-ness a cover-up for those parts of us where we feel shame?
So, we go into a time of quiet and experience the tender love of our Abba. We ask the Holy Spirit to help us see ourselves as we are—reflections of God and at the same time sinners who need his mercy and forgiveness. We remain always his “works in progress.” We humble ourselves by allowing the Holy Spirit to “deflate our egos” so as to make more room for Jesus to live inside us.
“Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me” (Ps 51:4).
