Humility And The Heights

Convertimini ad me in toto corde vestro, in jejunio, et fletu, et planctu: et scindite corda vestra, et non vestimenta vestra, ait Dominus omnipotens Quid sibi vult, dilectissimi, quod praecipit Dominus, ut convertamur ad eum? Ubique enim est, et replet omnia, et nihilominus complectitur universa. Quo me vertam, ut convertar ad te, Domine Deus meus? Si ascendero in coelum, tu illic es: si descendero in infernum, ades. Quid jubes? quo convertar ad te? Supra, an infra? ad dexteram, an ad sinistram? Consilium istud est, fratres mei; secretum est, quod solis credatur amicis. Mysterium regni Dei est; Apostolis revelatur in aure, nam turbis nihil dicitur absque parabola. Nisi conversi fueritis, inquit, et efficiamini sicut parvulus iste, non intrabitis in regnum coelorum. Agnosco plane quo velit ut convertamur. Ad Parvulum converti necesse est, ut discamus ab eo quia mitis est et humilis corde: ad hoc siquidem parvulus datus est nobis. Sane idem et magnus est, sed in civitate Domini, cui et dicitur: Exsulta et lauda, habitatio Sion, quia magnus in medio tui sanctus Israel. Quid tu inflaris, o homo? quid extolleris sine causa? quid alta sapis, et oculi tui omne sublime vident, quod tibi non cedet in bonum? Sublimis quidem Dominus, sed non ita proponitur tibi: laudabilis magnitudo illius, non etiam imitabilis. Elevata est magnificentia illius, et non poteris ad eam: nec si te ruperis, apprehendes. Accedet, inquit, homo ad cor altum, et exaltabitur Deus. Excelsus siquidem Dominus et humilia respicit, et alta a longe cognoscit. Humiliare, et apprehendisti. Haec plane lex pietatis, et propter hanc legem sustinui te, Domine. Si forte sublimitatis esset via proposita, et illic iter quo ostenderetur salutare Dei, quanta facerent homines ut exaltarentur? Quam crudeliter invicem sternerent, invicem conculcarent! Quam impudenter reperent, manibusque et pedibus conarentur in altum, ut imponerent sese homines super capita aliena! Et certe qui contendit supergredi proximos, multas inveniet difficultates, multos habebit 0172B aemulos, multos patietur contradictores, ascendentes equidem ex adverso: nihil vero facilius est volenti, quam humiliare semetipsum. Hoc verbum est, dilectissimi, quod omnino nos reddit inexcusabiles, ut ne tenue quidem nobis velamen praetendere liceat. Sanctus Bernardus Clarae Vallensis, Sermones De Tempore, In capite Jejunii, Sermo II, Quomodo debeamus converti ad Dominum Source: Migne PL 183.171c-172b

Turn to me with your whole heart, in fasting, in tears, in groaning, and rend your hearts and not your garments, says the Lord Almighty. 1 What does He wish, most beloved, when the Lord commands this, that they turn to Him? For He is everywhere, and fills everything, and He embraces everything. Where shall I turn myself that I turn to you, O Lord my God? 'If ascend to heaven, you are there; if I descend to hell, you are near.' 2 What do you command? Where do I turn to you? Above or below? To the right or to the left? This counsel is concealed, my brothers, because it is entrusted to friends alone. It is a mystery of the kingdom of God. It is revealed to the ears of the Apostles but to the crowd nothing is said but in parables. 'Unless you turn,' He says, 'and make yourself like this child, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.' 3 I know clearly where He wishes us to turn. It is necessary to have turned to the child, that we might learn from Him who is meek and humble of heart, 4 to this child that has been given to us. Certainly this one is great, but only in the city of the Lord, to whom it is said, 'Exult and give praise, dwelling of Sion, because the holy one of Israel is great in the midst of you.' 5 Why do you puff yourself up, O man? Why do you exalt yourself without reason? What do you know of high things, what do your eyes see that is sublime, when nothing good falls to you? Certainly the Lord is sublime, but that is not proposed to you. His greatness is worthy of praise, but it is not to be imitated. His magnificence is elevated and you are not able to approach it. Not even if you burst will you understand. 'An uplifted heart comes on a man and God is exalted,' it is said. And, 'God is on high and He looks down on the humble and aloft He knows from afar.' 6 Be humble, then, and you will understand. This is the clear law of piety, and because of this law I uphold you, O Lord. 7 If, perhaps, He were to set the on high the way proposed and there show the way for the salvation of God, how much would men have to do that they might be exalted? How cruelly they would grapple with one another and fall together. How unwisely they would seek, and with hands and feet attempt to reach the heights, with men treading on the heads of other men! And certainly he who strives and tramples on his fellow men shall find himself in many difficulties, he shall have many to rival him, and many who will dispute with him, as he tries to rise against opposition. But nothing is easier than to be humble, for those who wish it. This is the word, brothers, for which will have no excuse when it is given to us to unfurl such a slender sail. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons For The Year, At the Beginning of the Fast, from the Second Sermon, 'How we should turn to the Lord.' 1 Joel 2.12-13 2 Ps 138.8 3 Mt 18.3 4 Mt 11.29 5 Isaiah 12.6 6 Ps 63.7-8, Ps 137.6 7 Ps 129.4