If you seek humility, meditate on the goodness of God and lowliness of man. In this meditation from The Imitation of Christ, you will be moved to sincere humility.
Meditation
Lord, what is man that Thou art mindful of him; or the son of man that Thou visitest him? (Ps. 8:3). What hath man deserved that Thou shouldst give him Thy grace? Lord, what cause have I to complain if Thou forsake me? or what can I justly allege if Thou refuse to grant my petition?
This, indeed, I may truly think and say, Lord, I am nothing, I can do nothing, I have nothing of myself that is good; but I fail and am defective in all things, and ever tend to nothing. And unless I am supported and interiorly instructed by Thee, I become quite tepid and dissolute.
But Thou, O Lord, art always the same and endurest forever; always good, just, and holy; doing all things well, justly, and holily; and disposing them in wisdom. (Wis. 12:13). But I, who am more inclined to go back than to advance, continue not always in one state; for seven different seasons are changed over me. (Dan. 4:15).
Yet it quickly becomes better when it pleaseth Thee, and Thou stretchest out Thy helping hand; for Thou alone without man’s aid can assist me, and so strengthen me that my countenance shall be no more changed in various ways, but my heart shall be converted and take its rest in Thee alone.
Wherefore, if I did but well know how to cast away from me all human comfort, either for the sake of devotion, or through the necessity of seeking Thee, because there is no man that can comfort me, then might I justly depend on Thy grace, and rejoice in the gift of new consolation.
Thanks be to Thee, from whom all proceeds, as often as it goes well with me. But, for my part, I am but mere vanity, and nothing in Thy sight; an inconstant and weak man.
What have I then to glory in? or why do I desire to be esteemed? Is it not for nothing? and this is most vain. Truly vainglory is an evil plague, a very great vanity, because it draws us away from true glory, and robs us of heavenly grace. For whilst a man takes complacency in himself, he displeaseth Thee; whilst he seeks after the praises of men, he is deprived of true virtues.
But true glory and holy joy is to glory in Thee and not in one’s self; to rejoice in Thy name, and not to be delighted in one’s own virtue, nor in any creature, save only for Thy sake. Let Thy name be praised, not mine; let Thy work be extolled, not mine; let Thy holy name be blessed, but to me let nothing be attributed of the praises of men.
Thou art my glory, Thou art the joy of my heart. In Thee will I glory and rejoice all the day; but for myself I will glory in nothing but in my infirmities. (2 Cor. 12:5).
Let the Jews seek the glory which one man receives from another; I will seek that which is from God alone. (John 5:44). All human glory, all temporal honor, all worldly grandeur, compared to Thine eternal glory is but vanity and foolishness. O my truth and my mercy, O my God, O blessed Trinity! to Thee alone be all praise, honor, power, and glory, for endless ages of ages. (Deut. 26:19).
Practical Reflections
I am sensible of my natural corruption, which renders me incapable of all supernatural good and prone to all evil: but I cast myself on the mercies of a God who can bring much out of little, as He produced all things out of nothing; since it is not sufficient for me to know my own nothingness, and that I ought to glory in nothing, save only in my infirmities; I should also (for this is most important) be guided by an humble diffidence in myself, and a firm confidence in God, to whom nothing is impossible. When I find no consolation in man, then it is I feel indeed the happy necessity of having recourse to God, and of depending upon Him: happy that, all being wanting to me without Thee, O Lord, I should find my all in Thee! Well might holy Job thus express himself: Thine eyes are upon me, and I shall be no more. For when I think of Thee, my God! I feel within me an ardent desire of pleasing Thee; and everything disappears from before me, when Thou dost present Thyself to my soul.
Prayer
Do Thou, O God, reign absolutely over my soul, and may all that it contains yield and be immolated to Thee? Grant that, by corresponding with Thy holy grace, I may be enabled to suffer the loss of all human and natural satisfaction, to seek in Thee alone my consolation, and to sacrifice my whole self to Thee. O great God! Who knowest my condition, Who art able and willing to assist me, have compassion on the excess of my miseries! Withdraw me from myself, raise me above all visible things, grant that, quitting and renouncing myself, I may desire and seek only Thee. Amen.
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This article is taken from a chapter in The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis which is available from TAN Books.
