Holy Boldness and Humility

Those two terms seem at odds but truly they are not. Humility is not about being a doormat. It is about being grounded in the honesty of knowing who we truly are, of maintaining that proper perspective of our relationship with God and with others. We are humans with faults and with virtues. We can be of help to others and, we need help from others. We can have more compassion toward others knowing our own frail faults that cause us to stumble. It becomes easier to "love one another" when we remember we are all sinners and all potential saints.


It is easy to fall victim to our own "PR", the mask we wear for others for the sake of status or human respect, a sin. Strip away the mask, laugh at yourself and it will set you free. In that freedom you can enjoy the company of others without bowing to peer pressure and seeking to fit in with the worldly crowd. Seek only to please God by praying daily; by using each moment to walk in service to Him and to uplift our fellow Christians.


Holy Boldness is a fruit of humility. We must be bold, even in the face of persecution, imprisonment, and danger in order to stand firmly for Christ and His Church. When we are humble, it frees us to be bold in carrying the Gospel of Christ to others; for we no longer let the fear of the loss of status stop us from doing that which needs to be done for Christ. We still have the fears, we acknowledge them but we still move forward for Christ and His Church, regardless of the cost. We humbly trust God to perfect all things we seek to do for His Kingdom by entrusting all our actions to Him and His Will.


For the sake of freedom to live our faith unfettered by government interference, our USA Bishops are standing firm in Holy Boldness against the government's Obamacare contraceptive mandates. They know full well it could mean imprisonment. If it comes down to that they shall be in the good company of St. Paul and all the other saints before them who were imprisoned for the sake of Christ. Are they afraid? Probably. But they acknowledge their fears in humility and do not let those fears stop them from speaking out for the sake of religious freedom and for Christ. Our Bishops are human and they have pledged to follow Christ to the Cross if need be. They have taken refuge in the Lord.


May these servants of Our Lord be fortified with Holy Boldness in their faith. God will send His angels to guard our Bishops and all those who stand for religious freedom... this we are promised by God in Psalm 91:

1 You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,

who abide in the shade of the Almighty,

2 Say to the LORD, “My refuge and fortress,

my God in whom I trust.”

3 He will rescue you from the fowler’s snare,

from the destroying plague,

4 He will shelter you with his pinions,

and under his wings you may take refuge;

his faithfulness is a protecting shield.

5 You shall not fear the terror of the night

nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 Nor the pestilence that roams in darkness,

nor the plague that ravages at noon.

7 Though a thousand fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

near you it shall not come.

8 You need simply watch;

the punishment of the wicked you will see.

9 Because you have the LORD for your refuge

and have made the Most High your stronghold,

10 No evil shall befall you,

no affliction come near your tent.

11 For he commands his angels with regard to you,

to guard you wherever you go.

12 With their hands they shall support you,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.

13 You can tread upon the asp and the viper,

trample the lion and the dragon.

II

14 Because he clings to me I will deliver him;

because he knows my name I will set him on high.

15 He will call upon me and I will answer;

I will be with him in distress;

I will deliver him and give him honor.

16 With length of days I will satisfy him,

and fill him with my saving power.

http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/91