Sirach on Humility

Chapter 3

 

(vs 21) Seek not what is too difficult for you,

Do not desire crosses except insofar as you have borne those which were offered to you.  It is an error to desire martyrdom without having enough courage to bear an insult.  The enemy often arouses in us ardent desires for things that are absent and may never come our way.  It is to turn our minds away from present objects from which, however small they may be, we could draw great profit.  In imagination we fight monsters in Africa.  But in fact, due to lack of attention, we allow ourselves to be killed by little serpents on our way.  ~St. Francis de Sales

 nor investigate what is beyond your power.

Pray simply.  Do not expect to find in your heart any remarkable gift of prayer.  Consider yourself unworthy of it--then you will find peace.  Use the empty, cold dryness of your prayer as food for your humility.  Repeat constantly: "I am not worthy, Lord, I am not worthy!"  But say it calmly, without agitation.  This humble prayer will be acceptable to God.  ~Elder Macarius of Optina

(vs 22) Reflect upon what has been assigned to you; 

Choose then, from among so many desires…what can be practiced and accomplished now.  Turn these into good account.  Once you do this, God will send you other desires which you will realize in their own time.  Thus you will not waste your time in useless desires…  Put into effect those which are ripe and in season.  ~St. Francis de Sales

 

for you do not need what is hidden. 

Let us think only of doing well today.  When tomorrow arrives, it will in turn become today and we can think about it then.  Here again we must have great confidence and acceptance of God's providence.  We must provide ourselves with only enough manna for each day (cf. Exodus 16:16-21).  And we must not doubt that God will rain down more manna on us tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, and all the days of our pilgrimage.  ~St. Francis de Sales