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Sermon 37: Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
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penTecoST and The SundayS afTer 401 sermon 37: TenTh sunday afTer PenTeCosT [Sermon] 1. He who humbles himself shall be exalted. Luke 18:14. Within this verse, which is the infallible rule of divine justice, is contained a summa for the entire salvation of humanity that consists in the humility of merit and the sublimity of the reward. First, in it humility or the opportunity for merit is put forward in the manner of the antecedent. Second, the sublimity of the reward is added in the manner of the consequence. The first is in regard to what is known in the earthly life; and the second is in regard to what is attractive about the heavenly homeland. The first puts forth the humility of merit in the manner of the antecedent, when it says: He who humbles himself, that is, during the earthly life. Second, the sublimity of the reward is added in the manner of the consequence, when it adds: will be exalted, that is, in the heavenly homeland. 2. It says therefore: He who humbles himself where it notes the humility of merit. But in order to conform ourselves to the word of the Gospel, we can say that this person is truly penitent and has meritorious humility, who, in accord with the example of this Publican,657 has humility in works, in speech, and in the heart. Whence this one, by reason of his perfect humility returned home justified, that is, in conscience; first, he had the humility of subjection and reverence in works, due to a consideration of the highest majesty, and therefore it says: The 657 See Luke 18:10-14. The Sunday SermonS of ST. BonavenTure 402 Publican, standing at a distance, did not want to raise his eyes to heaven. Gloss: “at a distance: as a humble person he did not dare to draw near; he did not look, so that he be looked upon.” Second, he had the humility of contrition and penance in the heart, due to the remembrance of iniquity; whence: he beat his breast. The Gloss observes: “He oppresses the conscience, but he raises hope; he beats the breast, and drives the penalties out of himself.”658 Third, he had the humility of acknowledging fault with the mouth, due to the fear of eternal calamity or severity; whence he was saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner, to whom the eternal penalty was due by reason of guilt. Whereby the Gloss states: “He confesses that God may forgive; God pardons what that one admits.”659 Thus the summit of divine majesty was moving him to humility, which must be venerated; the reproach of the iniquity committed, which must be embarrassing; the judgment of supreme severity, which must be feared; and so he had the perfect motivation for humility, namely that which was above him, God who was presiding over all; that which was below him, the disgrace that was displeasing; and that which was against him, the judgment that was imminent. 3. But so we may proceed in the right order, we can say that this Publican conducts himself as a model of a true penitent, for first he had the humility of contrition and penitence in the heart, due to the remembrance of iniquity. Whence what is said in Proverbs 12:25 fits him: Grief in the heart of a man will humble him. Grief is the pain of past sins, which is an optimum motive for humili658 See the Glossa Ordinaria on Luke 18:13 in PL 114:323A. 659 See the Glossa Ordinaria on Luke 18:13 in PL 114:323A: “He confesses that God may forgive; God pardons because he acknowledges : God, be merciful.” [3.91.176.3] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 16:16 GMT) penTecoST and The SundayS afTer 403 ty of heart, because the penitent is pained by the sins and freely subjects the self to God whom the person offended, and salutarily asks for pardon, according to what is said in Psalm 50:19: A humble and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Whence it is said to the penitent in Sirach 2:4: In your sorrow endure, and in your humiliation keep patience: for gold and silver are tried in fire, but acceptable people in the furnace of humiliation. 4. Second, this Publican, conducting himself as a model of a true penitent, had the humility of recognizing his sin with the mouth, due to the fear of...