MONDAY, December 5

Psalm 25. To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; my God, I put my trust in you; let me not be humiliated, nor let my enemies triumph over me.

Humility and humiliation are not the same thing. Humility is the absence of pride, arrogance, self-importance. Humility is a vital part of the complex of characteristics we find in the best, most capable and successful people we know. Humility makes for a good listener, a fair-minded decision-maker. Humiliation, on the other hand, destroys self-respect and shrinks the human spirit. The King James translation of this psalm reads, “Let me not be ashamed,” and those words well characterize what’s at issue, here—loss of confidence, spiritual paralysis. The psalmist prays, “Let me not be humiliated, nor let my enemies triumph over me.”

There will be enemies, real and figurative, and there will, inevitably, be humiliating circumstances. That’s life. But when we put our trust in the Lord, we need not emerge from those situations humiliated. We may grow more humble, more aware of our own weak- nesses, and more appreciative of our family, friends, and God. But we needn’t be diminished. The humble spirit is larger and more vibrant, whereas the humiliated spirit is crippled.

PRAY for the Diocese of Western Louisiana (Province VII, USA)

Ps 25 * 9, 15; Amos 7:1-9; Revelation 1:1-8; Matthew 22:23-33

View the daily Lectionary Readings at http://satucket.com/lectionary/

Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com or Oremus Bible browser.

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