DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
1 Peter 4:12-5:5
(02/02 or 02/15)
Thursday of the Week before the Triodion
Clothed with Humility: 1 Peter 4:12-5:5, especially vs.
5:5: “...all of you be
submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists
the proud, But gives grace to the humble.’” The
Apostle Peter bids us ‘clothe’ ourselves with the virtue of
humility so that it is
manifest in us through gentle actions and graceful words. See how Saint Peter portrays humility as
a spiritual garment (vs. 5), since he uses the word for ‘humility’
as one would speak of ‘apparel,’ as that which can be seen. Humility is a ‘visible
lowliness,’ rising from a meek heart; yet does not make any
‘show’ of piety. Let us
search into this highest moral excellence.
Saint John of Sinai says, “It is one thing to be
humble, another to strive for humility, and another to praise the
humble.” He notes that
“...the first belongs to the perfect, the second to the truly obedient,
and the third to all the faithful.”
So, as Saint John suggests, let us at least take our place among the
faithful. Then we may be able to
acknowledge the seven marks of this “...nameless grace in the soul, its
name known only to those who have learned it by experience [as a] gift from
God.” As the Lord Himself says: “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from
Me; for I Am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls” (Mt. 11:29).
First, as Saint Theodoros the
Great Ascetic says, we may anticipate every “...kind of ascetic hardship,
together with prayer that springs from an afflicted heart and is accompanied by
many tears.” For being truly
humble is to afflict one’s self and to shed
tears. The humble soon discover how
profoundly we all are captive to sin; therefore, “They... sow with tears
[that they may] reap with rejoicing.
In their going they went, and they wept as they cast their seeds. But in their coming shall they come with
rejoicing bearing their sheaves” (see Ps. 125:6-8). The harvest of humility is a merciful
heart granted by the Lord Who richly pays all who labor in His fields.
Second, the humble soul knows himself. He receives fear-of-the-Lord as a grace,
for God Himself teaches us how feeble we are. He helps us remember that we are but
dust, and our days are as grass, as a flower of the field, which seems to
flourish until the “...wind is passed over it, then it shall be gone, and
no longer will it know the place thereof” (Ps. 102:14).
Third, the humble are devoid of wickedness. As Saint Philotheos
says, “Where humility is combined with the remembrance of God...there is
the place of God, the heaven of the heart in which, because of God’s
presence, no demonic army dares to make a stand.”
Fourth, the truly humble are thankful for deliverance from
past sins. They gladly endure
trials inflicted on them, as Saint Maximos says,
“...accepting them as...due on account of...former offenses,” and,
thus, they offer their trials to God for correction of sins.
Fifth, the humble soul is full of compassion, kindliness,
and mercy toward all, extending the same love for everyone as does our Heavenly
Father - on the just and the unjust (see Mt. 5:45). Saint John of Sinai speaks of a
‘holy team,’ of humility and love :
“...the one [humility] exalts, and the other [love], supporting the
exalted ones, never fails”
Sixth, the humble esteem others as greater than
themselves. Ilias
the Presbyter notes, “The higher a man ascends in humility, the lower he
appears in his own eyes...The humble man does not wish to be compared even with
the most lowly and is grieved when...given first
place.”
Seventh, humility invariably bears indignity, and abides in
humiliations and the most despised conditions. As Saint John of Sinai says, “God
rejoices when He sees us running to meet dishonor, so as to crush, strike, and
destroy our vain self-esteem.”
Out of the night my spirit awaketh
at dawn unto Thee, O God. Teach me
Thy righteousness; enlighten the eyes of my understanding lest at any time I
sleep unto death in sins.
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