examination of the heart 274 See, however, with what love your Spouse has embraced you today, most wicked one! With what love He has forgiven and pardoned all! Behold, He made you healthy, and you have escaped eternal death. Therefore, do not sin any more. 3. “they are hidden” (Lk 19:42). Entreat the Divine Goodness, that your evil deeds and your defects may never be hidden from you, but rather that even the smallest imperfections may be very well known to you. For just as, having seen slight stains on our garments, we usually clean them at once, even so, seeing the conscience soiled with a stain of some sin, we cannot, and we should not tolerate it, but should indeed try to expiate it at once. It is a great favor when God displays our faults before our eyes. It was beneficial for David that, admonished by the prophet, he acknowledged his offense (cf. 2 Sam 12:1-13). It was harmful for Solomon that nobody revealed to him his grievous lust or dissolute living, that nobody admonished him about his cult of idols. Hence, realize that it is a grace for you, and not a wrong, when somebody opens your eyes, points out your faults to you, and rebukes you. For as long as this is being done to you, consider yourself, my soul, as saved. [f.73v] TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Before Holy Communion 1. “Then [H]e spoke ... to some who trusted in themselves as just, and despised others” (cf. Lk 18:9). “It is good to confide in the Lord” (Ps 117:8) [DRB].120 It is proper to sanctity not to confide in oneself; it is wicked to have no confidence in God; it is dangerous to confide in oneself. Who would dare to consider himself as just? As long as we live we are in danger of committing a sin; indeed, since it is said in the Holy Scriptures that the just man falls seven times daily (cf. Prov 24:16), 120 In the RSV, this is Psalm 118:8.
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