Monday, January 9 : Saint Francis de Sales

Since our divine Savior is so near, what are we to do to prepare ourselves for his coming ? Saint John the Baptist teaches us : « Repent! » he says, « bring low those mountains of pride, fill those valleys of laziness and pusillanimity, for salvation is near at hand. » The ‘valleys’ are nothing other than fear which, when it becomes too great, leads to discouragement. The sight of the great sins we have committed brings with them a shock and fear that strikes the heart. These are the valleys we have to fill with trust and hope for the coming of our Lord. « Bring low mountains and hills » : what are these but presumption, pride and self-esteem, which is a very great hindrance to our Lord’s coming, who is accustomed to humble and bring low the proud, for he penetrates right to the bottom of our hearts to uncover the pride hidden within them. “Level the highways, the crooked ways make straight to make them a plain.” This is as though he were to say: “Put right all those doubtful intentions so that you may have none but that of pleasing God by doing penance, this being the goal to which we should all aim.” Make straight the path, smooth down your feelings by the mortification of your passions, inclinations and aversions. Oh, what a desirable thing it is, this equanimity of mind and feeling; how faithfully we ought to work to acquire it! For we are more changing and inconstant than can be told. People are to be found who at one moment, being in a good temper, will be of a pleasant and joyful conversation; yet look on the other side and you will find them sad and restless – in sum, the winding and uneven ways are to be made straight for the coming of our Lord.
maronite readings – rosary,team