[SEVENTH DAY]
Human Respect
[Preparatory Prayer (p. 237).]
MEDITATION
BY THE conscientious fulfilment of the duties of their state of life the Holy Helpers show us that the will of God alone was the motive of all their actions. Human respect, regard for the opinion of others, did not influence them.
The cowardly fear, "What will people say?" was the ruin of many a soul. The enemy of mankind is ever intent upon preventing us from doing good through human respect. He insinuates that virtue and piety are out of date and ridiculed. From human respect many a person boasts of that which ought to make him blush; he thinks it discreditable to be less remiss in his religious obligations than others. Ought the opinion and ridicule of the world influence us to prevent our pleasing God? St. Paul says: "If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ" (Gal. i. 10). Our Lord Himself tells us, "He that shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven" (Matt. x. 33).
PRACTICE
OUR Lord says: "So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. v. 16). Do not stray from the path of duty on account of human respect; do not let yourself be influenced by the judgments of the world.
Prayer