May 7

A test of true greatness

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed” (James 5:16).
“I do remember my faults this day” (Gen. 41:9).

True greatness never shows better than in the acknowledgment of wrong.

Be always ready to own any fault you have been in. If you have at any time thought, spoken or acted wrong, be not backward to acknowledge it. Never dream that this will hurt the cause of God; no, it will further it. Be, therefore, open and frank when you are taxed with anything; do not seek either to evade or disguise it, but let it appear just as it is, and you will thereby not hinder, but adorn the Gospel.
—John Wesley.

Humbling ourselves is sweeter than being humiliated.
—Reader Harris.

A man should never be ashamed to own that he has been in the wrong, which is but saying that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.
—Alexander Pope.

The blessedness of owning one’s fault is shown by the frank and illuminating admission of St. Theresa. After stating her lack of ability as a singer, she proceeds:
“I saw that some other novices could instruct me. But I was too proud to ask any questions. I was afraid that my great ignorance should be discovered. Shortly afterwards a good example was set before me, and then, when God had once opened my eyes to my sinful pride, I was content to ask information and help even of little children. And yet, and this surprised me, I lost no credit or honor thereby. Nay, it seemed to me that my Lord after that gave me better skill and a better memory. I could sing but very ill, and I was troubled at this, not because I failed in my worship of God, but because so many heard me, and thus I was disturbed on the mere point of honor and praise. I told them that I could not do what others did, and what was expected of me. At first I had some difficulty in this, but it soon became both natural and pleasant to me to tell the truth. By these nothings—and they are really nothings and I am sufficiently nothing when such things could put me to so much pain—and by little and little, His Divine Majesty vouchsafed to supply me with strength. I was never good at the choir, and I tried to do my part for it in folding up the mantles of the singers; and, methought, in that I was serving the angels of God who so well praised Him.”

Read full article...