275 part i: sunday meditations for the entire year it would be foolish even for a just man to hold himself in high esteem. The one who proclaims his righteousness ceases to be just and becomes godless. On the other hand, the one who confesses his wickedness ceases to be a sinner and becomes righteous. Wherefore, if you feel that you are in a state of grace, you are bound to give countless thanks to the Holy Spirit for this grace; but you should not at all suspect others of evil and become contemptuous of them. The one who easily believes that someone else is without grace is not in the state of grace himself. For one who cannot acknowledge the graces granted to another cannot acknowledge those granted to himself. Truly enlightened was the one who said: “I do not know whether I am worthy of grace, or hatred” (cf. Eccl 9:1), and he was an apostle at that, a vessel of election (cf. Acts 9:15) and the one caught up to the third Heaven (cf. 2 Cor 12:2).121 Therefore, upon approaching the sacred table with others, regard all of them as justified and just and yourself as full of imperfections and evil deeds. Shun that pharisaic: “I am not as … this publican” (Lk 18:11): But rather, like the one deserving a divine curse and the hatred of all creatures, you shall cry out with the tax collector: “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Lk 18:13). 2. “God, I thank you” (Lk 18:11). Owhat a hidden evil is pride! Howmildly and cunningly it insinuates itself into people’s souls under the cover of virtue! Today’s Pharisee thought that he was giving worthy thanks to God for the benefit of justification, because he thought that the obligation of gratitude is the greatest virtue; but here was hidden the enormous vice of pride. Behold how thanksgiving proves to be not always good, not always [f.74r] a virtue: sometimes it assumes the form of boasting, and at another time the form of flattery. Consider, therefore, how cautiously you should walk the way of perfection since you must beware that your good deeds themselves do not bring the verdict of condemnation or that this 121 St. Paul the Apostle is referred to here, but we do not find in the Scripture the words attributed to him here. HW, p. 912 (n. 7: Foundation of the House of Recollection, § 23): “I do not know whether I am worthy of grace or hatred.”
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