Day 16

Entering recovery, I learned that humility was crucial for accessing God’s grace, peace, and serenity. My recovery journey has enabled me to examine the motives behind my actions. Am I serving to gain acceptance? Or am I serving in response to God’s love for me? Although I still struggle with humility, experiencing God’s grace in my life empowers me to practice humility and serve God and others. I can turn my day into worshiping God through my actions and thoughts. And this comes by practicing the Steps, having a sponsor, and having Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

Today’s Gospel reads, “And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you” (Matthew 6:18). God promises to “repay” his children with His presence and uphold those who remain constant and humble. Catholic in Recovery has taught me that humility involves allowing Jesus Christ to guide my life and surrendering my will to His care. He will stand in the gap and help us when we put our trust in Him and remain humble. Sometimes, fear of humility creeps in, as my alcoholic mind suggests that I must control outcomes or that humility implies weakness. However, the truth, as stated in the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, is this: “For without humility, no alcoholic can stay sober at all. Humility is the bedrock necessity for a successful program of recovery, without it, they cannot live to much useful purpose, or, in adversity, be able to summon the faith that can meet any emergency.”

Our recovery program demonstrates that through humility we can truly serve God, others, and ourselves with love, finding purpose in our calling through Jesus Christ.

Reflection Questions

• What has been your biggest obstacle to being humble in your recovery journey?
• How have you been able to turn to God in moments of pride and ego? What fruits have you received as a result?

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: 2 Kings 2:1, 6-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 31:20, 21, 24
Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Reflection by Juan Carlos P.

(d.c.556-c.575, sources vary) — Saint Hervé, often Anglicized as Harvey, was a blind minstrel and miracle worker, and was said to have a special ministry of healing animals, even supposedly domesticating a wolf through a sermon. His father, who was a bard, died when Hervé was an infant. When he was around seven, his mother became an anchoress, someone who has renounced the world and chosen to live in prayer and penance. She left Hervé in the care of his uncles and a holy hermit in Brittany, France. He studied at a monastic school before becoming a teacher, bard, and minstrel.

Though physically blind, Saint Hervé possessed spiritual sight. Working through the Steps with a sponsor is intended to result in a “spiritual awakening,” after which we attempt “to carry this message to [others], and to practice these principles in all our affairs” (Step 12). Saint Hervé used what gifts he had to share what he had been given.

“‘Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.’… Jesus said to him in reply, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man replied to him, ‘Master, I want to see’” (Mark 10:47, 51; Luke 18:28, cf.41).

Reflection by Brad Farmer