Contemplation #7
Psalms 34

1. I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2. My soul will make its boast in the LORD;
The humble will hear it and rejoice.

3. O magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

4. I sought the LORD, and He answered me,
And delivered me from all my fears.

5. They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces will never be ashamed.

6. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
And saved him out of all his troubles.

7. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him,
And rescues them.

8. O taste and see that the LORD is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

9. O fear the LORD, you His saints;
For to those who fear Him there is no want.

Contemplation #8
St. John Chrysostom (347-407), Archbishop of Constantinople.
From Homily VI on Philippians

What then is humility? To be lowly minded. And he is lowly minded who humbles himself, not he who is lowly by necessity. To explain what I say; and do ye attend; he who is lowly minded, when he has it in his power to be high minded, is humble, but he who is so because he is not able to be high minded, is no longer humble. For instance, If a King subjects himself to his own officer, he is humble, for he descends from his high estate; but if an officer does so, he will not be lowly minded; for how? he has not humbled himself from any high estate. It is not possible to show humble-mindedness except it be in our power to do otherwise. For if it is necessary for us to be humble even against our will, that excellency comes not from the spirit or the will, but from necessity. This virtue is called humble-mindedness, because it is the humbling of the mind.

Contemplation #9
Meditate on the words of Jesus: "Learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls" (Matt., 11: 29).

Questions to open oneself to Jesus’ Words:
1. How do I ‘learn of Jesus’?
2. What does Jesus teach me?
3. How does this learning lead to rest?