Self-Abasement in the Sight of God
The Disciple
I WILL speak to my Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. If I consider myself anything more than
this, behold You stand against me, and my sins bear witness to the truth which I cannot contradict.
If I abase myself, however, if I humble myself to nothingness, if I shrink from all self-esteem and
account myself as the dust which I am, Your grace will favor me, Your light will enshroud my
heart, and all self-esteem, no matter how little, will sink in the depths of my nothingness to perish
forever.
It is there You show me to myself—what I am, what I have been, and what I am coming to; for
I am nothing and I did not know it. Left to myself, I am nothing but total weakness. But if You
look upon me for an instant, I am at once made strong and filled with new joy. Great wonder it is
that I, who of my own weight always sink to the depths, am so suddenly lifted up, and so graciously
embraced by You.
It is Your love that does this, graciously upholding me, supporting me in so many necessities,
guarding me from so many grave dangers, and snatching me, as I may truly say, from evils without
number. Indeed, by loving myself badly I lost myself; by seeking only You and by truly loving
You I have found both myself and You, and by that love I have reduced myself more profoundly
to nothing. For You, O sweetest Lord, deal with me above all my merits and above all that I dare
to hope or ask.
May You be blessed, my God, for although I am unworthy of any benefits, yet Your nobility
and infinite goodness never cease to do good even for those who are ungrateful and far from You.
Convert us to You, that we may be thankful, humble, and devout, for You are our salvation, our
courage, and our strength