Why Should I Humble Myself Before God?
There are principally three answers to this question. The first is that, owing to original sin, we are weak and are inclined to sin. We sin regularly: “a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again” (Proverbs 24:16) – this is thought to mean daily. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10). So we have sins and faults that we need to confess daily, humbling ourselves before God, and asking for His help to overcome them.
The second reason is that we are limited, finite beings, while God is all-powerful and infinite. We need to come to Him humbly in prayer to ask for what we need, to bring our prayer intentions that we cannot take care of ourselves. He is able to answer our prayers.
The third reason is that we are proud and need to show God that He is number one. As the saying goes, “God is God and I am not.” Humility is a hard-won virtue that is acquired through suffering and humiliation. Few choose it, but it is a foundation or gateway for the other virtues; it is essential in the spiritual life. God hates pride and no one can enter heaven as long as he is proud. Pride was the devil’s primary sin. “‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you” (1 Peter 5:5-6). He does not seek to punish us but to perfect us…
The best way to humble ourselves before God is The Six Kowtows, in which we prostrate our bodies before God and informally pray from the heart at the same time. Especially in these end times, we need to beg God in this way for all our urgent intentions. Although The Six Kowtows will be practiced from now on and is even practiced in heaven, as revealed through the messenger Lucia Phan, they are given in a special way for the unique times in which we live, when humanity needs to come back to God. The Six Kowtows are for all, from the beginner in the spiritual life to the advanced. “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12; cf. Luke 14:11).
Humility is, in fact, a concept of paramount importance in the Bible. That word appears 10 times in the Bible. Among various forms of the word, some stand out: “humble” appears 54 times, “humbled” appears 39 times, and “humiliation” appears seven times. Has humanity not been humbled? Have you not been humbled by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Many have contracted the disease, died, become isolated, or lost income. It is well-known by now that we are all hurting in various ways due to COVID-19 and the falling economies worldwide. Just one example is the suicide rate, which has gone through the roof. To be sure, we need God. The Six Kowtows are heaven’s answer to the unprecedented challenges of these times. They are Blessed Mother’s gift to us to help us in the most effective way to come back to God (not counting the sacraments, of course, but those will be limited soon, again – heaven knows this and has given us the solution during these very trying times).
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made […]” (2 Chronicles 7:13-15). What will you do when things get even worse than now? We know about the happy ending of the Book of Revelation, but how painful it is before then… So God and Blessed Mother are giving us a great grace for these times.
The Six Kowtows are a very powerful prayer practice in which we surrender to God. Many miracles and favors of various kinds come through them. When we beg God through The Six Kowtows, things can happen. We must not be superstitious regarding The Six Kowtows, but material, spiritual, and physical blessings have and will be given to many. The most important grace, though, is purely spiritual – our coming back to God (or ongoing, daily conversion for those who are more advanced).
The foremost reason people do not kowtow, it seems, is pride. Such people are too proud to prostrate themselves before God. It is just too embarrassing. Pride is actually considered a virtue in our day, and to humble oneself in front of others is simply unacceptable. We must not reject heaven’s gift though. Jesus said, “Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! […] you did not know the time of your visitation” (Luke 19:42,44). We do not want that said of us regarding this special gift. We must humble ourselves. Here are a few powerful verses of Scripture on this:
“Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days […]” (1 Kings 21:29).
“Because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the LORD, when you heard how I spoke against this place, and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have rent your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, says the LORD” (2 Kings 22:19).
“Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words” (Daniel 10:12).
“They have not humbled themselves even to this day, nor have they feared, nor walked in my law and my statutes which I set before you and before your fathers” (Jeremiah 44:10).
“Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4).
A few words on humility and prayer… Humility is necessary for prayer. One cannot, in fact, grow in one’s relationship with God – that is, pray – without the virtue of humility. Here are two quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church that make this clear.
2559 “Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.” But when we pray, do we speak from the height of our pride and will, or “out of the depths” of a humble and contrite heart? He who humbles himself will be exalted; humility is the foundation of prayer. Only when we humbly acknowledge that “we do not know how to pray as we ought,” are we ready to receive freely the gift of prayer. “Man is a beggar before God.”
2631 The first movement of the prayer of petition is asking forgiveness, like the tax collector in the parable: “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” It is a prerequisite for righteous and pure prayer. A trusting humility brings us back into the light of communion between the Father and his Son Jesus Christ and with one another, so that “we receive from him whatever we ask.” Asking forgiveness is the prerequisite for both the Eucharistic liturgy and personal prayer.
To conclude, we must humble ourselves before God. In these proud times, God wants us to repent and come back to Him. We also have unique needs and intentions during these tumultuous times. God has provided a way for us to humble ourselves before Him and beg for what we need: The Six Kowtows. These will be all the more necessary when access to the sacraments becomes limited soon. Physical prostration appears throughout the Bible. God wants it to be practiced now, especially when His people are compromised through various restrictions and privations. We need God. We cannot do it on our own. We must renounce the lie of self-sufficiency. If we practice The Six Kowtows, He will come to our aid one way or another. No one leaves empty-handed who practices The Six Kowtows. “But he gives more grace; therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit yourselves therefore to God […] Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you” (James 4:6-7,10).
[:ph]Bakit Kailangan Akong Magpakumbaba sa Harap ng Diyos ?
Mayroon tatlong pangunahing bagay na sagot sa katanungan. Una, mayroon tayong utang , orihinal na kasalanan, mahina tayo at nahilig sa kasalanan. Tayo ay nagkakasala ng regular: ang matuwid na tao bumabagsak sa kasalanan pitong beses at tumatayo ulit ( Proverbs 24:16) – ito ay iniisip araw-araw. “Kung tayo sasabihin natin nawa tayong kasalanan, niluluko natin ang atin sarili, at ang katotohanan ay wala sa atin. Kung ikukumpisal natin ang atin kasalanan, siya ay tapat at matapat at patatawarin niya at lilinisin niya niya tayo sa mga hindi matuwid natin ginagawa. Kung sasabihin natin na hindi tayo nagkasala, ginawa natin siyang sinungaling at ang ang kanyang salita ay wala sa atin” ( John 1:8-10) Kaya tayo ay nagkasala at nagkamali na kailangan natin ikumpisal; araw- araw, magpakumababa tayo sa harap ng Diyos at humingi ng tulong upang masupil sila.
Ang Ikalawang dahilan tayo ay limitado, mayroon tayong hangganan, samantalang ang Diyos ay lubos na makapangyarihan at walang hangganan. Kailangan lumapit tayo sa kanya ng mapakumbaba na nagdarasal at hilingin ang atin kailangan, upang dalhin ang atin layunin na hindi natin kayang pangalagaan. Siya nasasagot ang atin dasal.
Ang ikatlong dahilan, tayo ay mayabang at kailangan natin ipakita sa Diyos na siya ang una sa sa lahat, kagaya ng binabanggit na kasabihan, “ Ang Diyos ay Diyos at Ako ay hindi.”Ang Pagpapakumbaba ay mahirap na nagwaging virtue o katangian na nakukuha sa pamamagitan ng paghihirap at pagpapakumbaba. Kaunti lamang ang pumipili nito subalit ito ang pundasyon o daan para sa ibang virtue o katangian; ito ay kailangan sa espiritwal sa buhay. Ang Diyos napopoot sa kayabangan at wala sino man ang makakapasok sa langit habang siya ay mayabang. Ang Pride o Yabang ang pangunahing kasalanan ng demonyo.’ Ang Diyos tutol sa mayabang subalit nagbibigay siya ng biyaya sa mapakumbaba.’
“Magpakumbaba ang inyong sarili ngayon sa ilalim ng kamay ng Diyos, sa takdang panahon siya ay itataas kayo” (Peter 5:5-6). Hindi niya hinahangad na parusahan tayo kundi gawin tayong perpekto.
Ang pinakamabuting paraan na magpakumbaba ay sa harap ng Diyos ang Anim na Kowtows, tayo ay nagpoprostrate o nagpapatirapa ang atin katawan sa harap ng Diyos at pinaaalam magdasal na nanggaling sa puso na magkasabay. Lalo ngayon sa katapusan ng mundo, kailangan natin magmakaawa sa Diyos para sa atin mabilis na intentions. Bagaman ang Ang Anim na Kowtows ay gagawin magmula ngayon at ginagawa sa langit, ay ihinayag sa mensahero Lucia Phan, sila ay binibigyan ng pambihirang oras sa atin buhay, kapag ang sangkatauhan kailangan magbalik sa Diyos. Ang Anim na Kowtows ay para sa lahat, sa mga nag-uumpisa sa kanilang espiritwal na buhay umabante.” Kung sino ang itinaas ang sarili ay magpapakum -baba at kung sino ang mapakumbaba sa sarili ay itataas “ ( Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11)
Ang Pagpapakumbaba ay katotohanan, ideya pinakamahalaga sa Bibliya. Ang salita “humility “ay mababasa sa 10 beses. Ang mga ibat-ibang klase ng salita, ang iba kitang -kita: “humble” mababasa natin 54 beses, “ humbled” mababasa 39 beses at “humiliation” nabasa natin 7 beses. Ang sangkatauhan ba ay hindi pa nagpakumbaba? Hindi ba kayo nagpakumbaba sa epekto ng COVID-19 pandemya?
Maraming tao ang nakakuha ng sakit, namatay , at nakahiwalay, nawalan ng kita. Alam natin lahat na tayo naghihirap sa maraming paraan ng dahil sa COVID-19 at ang bagsak na ekonomiya sa buong mundo. Katulad ng maraming nagpapakamatay na tao. Para sigurado, kailangan natin ang Diyos. Ang Anim na Kowtows ay ang sagot ng langit sa walang kaparis na pagsubok sa panahon ito. Ito ay regalo ng Banal na Inang Maria upang tulungan tayo sa lubos na mabisang paraan upang magbalik tayo sa Diyos ( hindi kasama ang bilang ng sakramento, siyempre, subalit ang mga ito ay magiging limitado sa madaling panahon, ulit – ang langit alam ito at siya ay nagbigay ng kalutasan sa napakahirap na kalagayan.)
Kapag ang langit ay nanahimik para walang ulan o utusan ang locust na sirain ang lupa o magpadala ng salot sa mga tao, kung mga tao tinawag sa pangalan nila nagpakumbaba at nagdasal at hinanap ako at iniwasan ang masamang gawain, pagkatapos makakarinig ako nanggaling sa langit at patatawarin ang kanilang kasalanan at pagagalingin ang kanilang bansa. Ngayon ang akin mata ay bubukas at ang akin taynga ay makikinig sa inyong dasal na akin ginawa[…] ( Chronicles 7: 13-15). Ano ang gagawin ninyo kung ang mga bagay ay lalong lumalala? Alam natin ang masayang katapusan ng Libro ng Pagsisiwalat, subalit gaano kasakit ito noon… ang Diyos at ang Banal na Ina ay binigyan tayo ng biyaya sa panahon ito.
Ang Anim na Kowtows ay napakabisang dasal na gawin, ang pagsuko natin sa Diyos. Maramiing milagro at pabor na ibat-ibang klase nanggaling sa pamamagitan nito. Kapag nagmamakaawa tayo sa Diyos sa pamamagitan ng Anim ng Kowtows, maraming bagay ang mangyayari. Huwag tayong maging mapamahiin ukol sa Anim na Kowtows, subalit mga materya, espiritwal at pisiko biyaya mayroon ibibigay sa marami. Ang mahalaga biyaya, bagaman puro espiritwal- ang atin pagbabalik sa Diyos ( patuloy, araw-araw na pagbabago para mga taong nauna.)
Ang kaunaunahan dahilan kung bakit ang tao hindi alam ang kowtow, maaring sa yabang, mayroon mga tao na mayabang para mag-prostrate ang sarili sa harap ng Diyos. Masyadong nakakahiya. Ang Yabang ay itinuturing na virtue sa atin panahon at magpakumbaba mag-isa sa harap ng iba ay hindi matatanggap. Huwag natin tanggihan ang regalo ng langit. Sabi ni Jesus,” maski ngayon alam ninyo ang mga bagay na nagbibigay ng kapayapaan […] alam ninyo ang oras ng inyong pagbisita”( luke 19:42,44). Ayaw natin sabihin sa atin ukol sa special na regalo. Kailangan natin magpakumbaba atin sarili. Ito ang kaunting makapangyarihan talata ng Scripture na ito:
“Nakita na ba ninyo kung papaano si Ahab ay nagpakumbaba sa harap ng Diyos? Hindi ko ibibigay ang kasamaan sa kanyang panahon […]” ( 1 kings 21:29 .
“Dahil sa iyong puso na nagsisi at ikaw ay nagpakumbaba sa iyong sarili harap ng Panginoon, noong narinig ninyo kung papaano ako nagsalita laban sa lugar na ito at laban sa kanilang mamamayan, na huwag silang nakatiwangwang at isinumpa at hiniram ang iyong damit at lumuluha ka akin harapan, at narinig kita, sinasambit ang Panginoon” ( 2 Kings 22:19 ).
“ Huwag matakot, Daniel, magmula noong unang araw na inilagay mo ang iyong isip na maunawaan at magpakumbaba ka sa harap ng Diyos, ang iyong salita ay akin narinig at ako ay dumating ng dahil sa iyong salita” ( Daniel 10:12).
“Hindi sila nagpakumbaba sa kanilang sarili maski ngayon araw na ito, natakot ba sila, o nilakad ang akin batas at sa akin palatuntunan na akin inayos para sa inyo at sa harap ng akin ama” ( Jeremiah 44:10).
“Kung sino ang magpakumbaba katulad ng bata, ay ang pinakamabuting tao sa Kaharian sa langit” ( Matthew 18:4).
Kaunting salita ng pagpapakumbaba at dasal…Pagpakumbaba ay kailangan sa pagdarasal. Ang bawat isa, totoo, ay hindi lalawak ang relasyon sa Diyos – kung nagdarasal ng walang virtue ng pagpapakumbaba. Narito ang dalawang quote nanggaling sa Cathechism ng katoliko ng simbahan na maliwanag.
2559 “ Ang pagdarasal ay itinataas ang atin isip at puso sa Diyos o hinihiling ang mabuting bagay na nanggaling sa Diyos.” Subalit kapag tayo ay nagdarasal, nagsasalita ba tayo nanggaling sa tugatog ng atin yabang at kagustuhan o “ mula sa ilalim” ng pagpapakumbaba at nagsisising puso? Ang taong nagpakum-baba sa sarili ay itinataas; ang pagpapakumbaba ay pundasyon ng dasal. Bukod tangi kung kikilalanin natin na ” hindi natin alam kung papaano ang magdasal hanggat kinakailangan natin gawin,” handa ba tayong tanggapin malaya dasal. “ Ang tao ay pulubi sa harapan ng Diyos.”
2631 Ang unang movement ng dasal ng petition ay ang paghingi ng kapatawaran, katulad ng tax collector sa parable: “ Ang Diyos ay merciful sa akin makasalanan!” Ito ang kailangan para sa matuwid at puro dasal. Ang pinagkakatiwalaan pagpapa-kumbaba nagbabalik sa atin ng ilaw ng pakikipag-ugnayan sa pagitan ng Ama at ng kanyang anak na si Jesus Kristo at nakikitungo ang isat-isa, para “ tayo ay tatanggap sa kanya kahit ano ang hilingin natin.” Ang paghingi ng tawad ay kailangan sa parehong Eukaristic Liturgy at pansaring dasal.
Para tapusin, kailangan tayong magpakumbaba sa Diyos. Sa ipinagmamalaki panahon, ang Diyos gusto sa atin na magsisi at magbalik sa kanya. Tayo ay mayroon pambihira kailangan at intentions sa kasalukuyan pagkakagulo ng panahon. Ang Diyos ay nagbigay ng daan para sa atin na magpakumbaba sa harap niya at magmakaawa kung ano ang kailangan natin: Ang Anim na Kowtows. Ito ang kailangan sa lahat para sa paglapit sa sakramento naging limitado di- magtatagal. Pisikal na prostration lumilitaw sa buong Bibliya. Ang Diyos gusto niya na gawin ito ngayon, lalo na ang mga tao nagkasundo sa mga bagay na mahigpit at kasalatan. Kailangan natin ang Diyos. Hindi natin ito magagawa sa sarili natin. Kailangan natin talikuran ang kasinungalingan ng self-sufficiency. Kung gagawin natin ang Anim na Kowtows, siya ay darating upang tulungan tayo ibat-ibang paraan. Wala sino man maiiwan na pinauwi na walang dala na ginagawa ang Ang Anim na Kowtows. “ Subalit siya ay nagbibigay ng maraming biyaya; kaya sabi, “ Ang Diyos ay laban sa mayabang, subalit nagbibigay ng biyaya sa mapakumbaba.” Isuko ninyo ang inyong sarili sa Diyos […] Magpakumbaba ang inyong saril sa harap ng Panginoon at siya itataas kayo.” ( James 4:6-7, 10).
[:fr]Pourquoi devrais-je m’humilier devant mon Dieu?
Il y a principalement trois réponses à cette question. La première est que, à cause du péché originel, nous sommes faibles et enclins au péché. Nous péchons régulièrement: «un homme juste tombe sept fois et il se relève» (Proverbes 24:16) – cela signifie quotidiennement. «Si nous disons que nous n’avons point de péché, nous nous séduisons nous-mêmes, et la vérité n’est point en nous. Si nous confessons nos péchés, il est fidèle et juste pour nous les pardonner, et pour nous purifier de toute iniquité. Si nous disons que nous n’avons point de péché, nous le faisons menteur, et sa parole n’est point en nous.»(1 Jean 1: 8-10). Nous avons donc des péchés et des fautes que nous devons confesser quotidiennement, en nous humiliant devant Dieu et en demandant son aide pour les surmonter.
La deuxième raison est que nous sommes des êtres limités et finis, alors que Dieu est tout-puissant et infini. Nous devons venir à lui humblement dans la prière pour demander ce dont nous avons besoin, pour apporter nos intentions de prière que nous ne pouvons pas prendre soin de nous-mêmes. Il est capable de répondre à nos prières.
La troisième raison est que nous sommes fiers et devons montrer à Dieu qu’Il est le numéro un. Comme le dit le proverbe, «Dieu est Dieu et je ne le suis pas». L’humilité est une vertu durement acquise qui s’acquiert par la souffrance et l’humiliation. Rares sont ceux qui le choisissent, mais c’est un fondement ou une passerelle pour les autres vertus; c’est essentiel dans la vie spirituelle. Dieu déteste l’orgueil et personne ne peut entrer au ciel tant qu’il est fier. La fierté était le péché principal du diable. «« Dieu s’oppose aux orgueilleux, mais donne grâce aux humbles. »Humiliez-vous donc sous la puissante main de Dieu, afin qu’il vous élève en temps voulu» (1 Pierre 5: 5-6). Il ne cherche pas à nous punir mais à nous perfectionner…
La meilleure façon de nous humilier devant Dieu est les Six Prosternations, dans lesquels nous nous prosternons devant Dieu et prions de manière informelle avec le cœur en même temps. Surtout en ces temps de la fin, nous devons implorer Dieu de cette manière pour toutes nos intentions urgentes. Bien que les Six Prosternations soient pratiqués à partir de maintenant et soient même pratiqués dans le ciel, comme révélé par la messagère Lucia Phan, ils sont donnés d’une manière spéciale pour les temps uniques dans lesquels nous vivons, lorsque l’humanité a besoin de revenir à Dieu. Les Six Prosternations sont pour tous, du débutant dans la vie spirituelle à l’avancé. «Quiconque s’élève sera humilié et celui qui s’abaissera sera élevé» (Matthieu 23:12; cf. Luc 14:11).
L’humilité est, en fait, un concept d’une importance primordiale dans la Bible. Ce mot apparaît 10 fois dans la Bible. Parmi les différentes formes du mot, certaines se détachent: «humble» apparaît 54 fois, «humilié» apparaît 39 fois et «humiliation» apparaît sept fois. L’humanité n’a-t-elle pas été humiliée? N’avez-vous pas été humilié par les effets de la pandémie du COVID-19?
Beaucoup ont contracté la maladie, sont décédés, se sont isolés ou ont perdu des revenus. Il est bien connu à présent que nous souffrons tous de diverses manières en raison du COVID-19 et de la chute des économies dans le monde. Un seul exemple est le taux de suicide qui a explosé. Pour être sûr, nous avons besoin de Dieu. Les Six Prosternations sont la réponse du ciel aux défis sans précédent de cette époque. Ils sont le cadeau de notre Sainte Mère pour nous aider de la manière la plus efficace à revenir à Dieu (sans compter les sacrements, bien sûr, mais ceux-ci seront bientôt limités – le ciel le sait et nous a donné la solution pendant ces très temps difficiles).
«Quand je fermerai le ciel et qu’il n’y aura point de pluie, quand j’ordonnerai aux sauterelles de consumer le pays, quand j’enverrai la peste parmi mon peuple; si mon peuple sur qui est invoqué mon nom s’humilie, prie, et cherche ma face, et s’il se détourne de ses mauvaises voies, -je l’exaucerai des cieux, je lui pardonnerai son péché, et je guérirai son pays. Mes yeux seront ouverts désormais, et mes oreilles seront attentives à la prière faite en ce lieu.[…] »(2 Chroniques 7: 13-15). Que ferez-vous lorsque les choses seront encore pires que maintenant? Nous connaissons la fin heureuse du Livre de l’Apocalypse, mais combien c’est douloureux avant cela… Alors Dieu et sa Sainte Mère nous donnent une grande grâce pour ces temps.
Les Six Prosternations sont une pratique de prière très puissante dans laquelle nous nous abandonnons à Dieu. De nombreux miracles et faveurs de toutes sortes en découlent. Lorsque nous implorons Dieu à travers les Six Prosternations des choses peuvent arriver. Nous ne devons pas être superstitieux à propos des Six Prosternations, mais des bénédictions matérielles, spirituelles et physiques ont et seront accordées à beaucoup. La grâce la plus importante, cependant, est purement spirituelle – notre retour à Dieu (ou notre conversion quotidienne continue pour ceux qui sont plus avancés).
La raison principale pour laquelle les gens ne se prosternent pas, semble-t-il, est la fierté. De telles personnes sont trop fières pour se prosterner devant Dieu. C’est trop embarrassant. La fierté est en fait considérée comme une vertu de nos jours, et s’humilier devant les autres est tout simplement inacceptable. Nous ne devons cependant pas rejeter le don du ciel. Jésus a dit: «Est-ce que même aujourd’hui vous saviez ce qui fait la paix! […] Vous ne connaissiez pas l’heure de votre visite »(Luc 19: 42,44). Nous ne voulons pas que cela soit dit de nous concernant ce cadeau spécial. Nous devons nous humilier.
Voici quelques versets puissants de l’Écriture à ce sujet:
«Avez-vous vu comment Achab s’est humilié devant moi? Parce qu’il s’est humilié devant moi, je n’apporterai pas le mal en ses jours […] »(1 Rois 21:29).
«Parce que ton cœur était pénitent, et que tu t’es humilié devant l’Éternel, quand tu as entendu comment j’ai parlé contre ce lieu et contre ses habitants, afin qu’ils deviennent une désolation et une malédiction, et tu as déchiré tes vêtements et tu as pleuré devant moi, Moi aussi je t’ai entendu, dit l’Éternel »(2 Rois 22:19).
«Daniel, ne crains rien; car dès le premier jour où tu as eu à cœur de comprendre, et de t’humilier devant ton Dieu, tes paroles ont été entendues, et c’est à cause de tes paroles que je viens.» (Daniel 10:12).
«Ils ne se sont point humiliés jusqu’à ce jour, ils n’ont point eu de crainte, ils n’ont point suivi ma loi et mes commandements, que j’ai mis devant vous et devant vos pères.» (Jérémie 44:10).
«Quiconque s’humilie comme cet enfant est le plus grand du royaume des cieux» (Matthieu 18: 4).
Quelques mots sur l’humilité et la prière… L’humilité est nécessaire à la prière. On ne peut, en fait, grandir dans sa relation avec Dieu – c’est-à-dire prié – sans la vertu d’humilité. Voici deux citations du Catéchisme de l’Église Catholique qui le montrent clairement.
2559 «La prière est l’élévation de l’esprit et du cœur vers Dieu ou la demande de bonnes choses à Dieu.» Mais quand nous prions, parlons-nous du haut de notre fierté et de notre volonté, ou «du fond» d’un cœur humble et contrit? Celui qui s’abaisse sera élevé; l’humilité est le fondement de la prière. Ce n’est que lorsque nous reconnaissons humblement que «nous ne savons pas prier comme il se doit» que nous sommes prêts à recevoir gratuitement le don de la prière. «L’homme est un mendiant devant Dieu.»
2631 Le premier mouvement de la prière de pétition est de demander pardon, comme le collecteur d’impôts dans la parabole: «Dieu, sois miséricordieux envers moi pécheur!» C’est une condition préalable à une prière juste et pure. Une humilité confiante nous ramène à la lumière de la communion entre le Père et son Fils Jésus-Christ et les uns avec les autres, afin que «nous recevions de lui tout ce que nous demandons». Demander le pardon est la condition préalable à la fois à la liturgie eucharistique et à la prière personnelle.
Pour conclure, nous devons nous humilier devant notre Dieu. En ces temps de fierté, Dieu veut que nous nous repentions et que nous revenions à lui. Nous avons également des besoins et des intentions uniques en ces temps tumultueux. Dieu nous a fourni un moyen de nous humilier devant lui et de demander ce dont nous avons besoin: les Six Prosternations. Celles-ci seront d’autant plus nécessaires que l’accès aux sacrements sera bientôt limité. La prostration physique apparaît dans toute la Bible. Dieu veut que cela soit pratiqué maintenant, surtout quand Son peuple est compromis par diverses restrictions et privations. Nous avons besoin de Dieu. Nous ne pouvons pas le faire seuls. Nous devons renoncer au mensonge de l’autosuffisance. Si nous pratiquons les Six Prosternations, Il viendra à notre aide d’une manière ou d’une autre. Personne ne repart les mains vides qui pratiquent les Six Prosternations. «Mais il donne plus de grâce; c’est pourquoi il dit: «Dieu s’oppose aux orgueilleux, mais donne grâce aux humbles.» Soumettez-vous donc à Dieu […] Humiliez-vous devant le Seigneur et il vous élèvera »(Jacques 4: 6-7,10).[:]