Walk in the presence of God
Thursday, 26 September 2013 16:55
CHAPTER VII. Of Humility
26 Jan. 27 May. 26 Sept.
The first degree of humility, then, is that a man, always keeping the fear of God before his eyes, avoid all forgetfulness; and that he be ever mindful of all that God hath commanded, bethinking himself that those who despise God will be consumed in hell for their sins, and that life everlasting is prepared for them that fear Him. And keeping himself at all times from sin and vice, whether of the thoughts, the tongue, the hands, the feet, or his own will, let him thus hasten to cut off the desires of the flesh.
Perpetual Adoration
Perpetual adoration, as we understand it, emerges logically from the first degree of humility. A monk is in a state of perpetual adoration of God, not because he never leaves the sanctuary wherein Our Lord is really present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar but, rather, because he keeps the fear of God before his eyes, avoids forgetfulness of the Divine Omnipresence, and is ever mindful of all that God has commanded. “By what doth a young man correct his way? by observing thy words. With my whole heart have I sought after thee: let me not stray from thy commandments. Thy words have I hidden in my heart, that I may not sin against thee” (Psalm 118:9–10). “Lay up these my words in your hearts and minds, and hang them for a sign on your hands, and place them between your eyes. Teach your children that they meditate on them, when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest on the way, and when thou liest down and risest up” (Deuteronomy 11:18–19).
The Fear of God
The fear of God is not a sentiment of fright that causes man to cringe in terror of one who comes to punish and annihilate his creature; it is rather a profound inward impression of the All–Holiness of God that manifests itself in adoration. The man who keeps the fear of God before his eyes walks in God’s presence; in so doing he realises the meaning of Our Lord’s words, “Abide in me, and I in you” (John 15:4).
In the Presence of God
The world, the flesh, and the devil conspire together to make us forget the presence of God. The Sacred Liturgy of the Church, which is the foretaste of the Kingdom of God [the world sanctified], the graces of Baptism and Chrismation [the flesh washed and anointed], and the unseen companionship of the Angels [pure spiritual agents] work together to keep us at every moment in presence of God, loving Him with every heartbeat and adoring Him with every breath. This is the state of perpetual adoration to which the monk aspires. “But as for me in the multitude of thy mercy, I will come into thy house; I will worship towards thy holy temple, in thy fear. Conduct me, O Lord, in thy justice: because of my enemies, direct my way in thy sight” (Psalm 5:8–9).