Saturday. [Heb. 5:1-8; Luke 14:1-11]

   When you are bidden somewhere, do not sit in the highest place. In sum: always and everywhere, seek the lowliest place. In this simple rule is briefly expressed the entire rich substance of humility. Take this rule, sit down and examine all possible cases in your life, and in advance choose the lowliest place in each of them. This will be the practice of humility, which will gradually move from external deeds to the inner, and will form a sediment of humility there as a foundation. Time will make this seed to grow amidst this practice, and humility will at last fill all of your soul and body, and all outer affairs. What will happen? Moral greatness will shine on your brow and attract universal respect; and the words will be fulfilled in you: Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. However, do not have this as your intention while practicing humility, but rather humility itself. It in and of itself brings a blessed good disposition to the soul. Where humility comes all inner troubles cease and all external adversities do not produce startling impressions. Just as a wave which meets no impediment spills into a boundless sea without noise or crash, so outer and inner sorrows do not harm a humble soul, but are carried as though on the surface, without leaving a trace. This is the worldly advantage, so to speak, of a humble person. What light from above illumines him, what consolations are sent, what breadth of free action is revealed! Truly, only humility contains it all…