Knowledge of Self: Day Six

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Day eighteen at Fish Eaters.

Day eighteen at The Catholic Company.

The first half of today's reading comes from the Gospel of Luke, which is the gospel of mercy. The words of Jesus begin with a warning (which should be heeded) but move to forgiveness:

Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they come! It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble. Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive.

The striking thing about this selection is the revelation that we should not expect praise for following God's commands: "when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'" This is a common pitfall for those who think they are righteous and do the good they do in search of praise (rather than for the sake of the good of others).

The second part from Imitation of Christ is more comforting than previous selections:

My child, do not let the labors which you have taken up for My sake break you, and do not let troubles, from whatever source, cast you down; but in everything let My promise strengthen and console you. I am able to reward you beyond all means and measure. You will not labor here long, nor will you always be oppressed by sorrows. Wait a little while and you will see a speedy end of evils. 

The point of this rigorous self-examination is not to break a person down, but to see the truth about himself and his pride which would have him thinking of himself as God. The sense of self is not to be destroyed but humbled as Christ during his passion. In his passion, Christ was sin for us (but he did not sin himself). When we're carrying our crosses in imitation of Christ and in following Christ, we are bearing the results of our sins and the sins of others. This dying to self is to purify the self, not to destroy it.