Too Full (Be a Saint)

Once, a university professor went to visit a well-respected Spiritual Master to gain more insights into the mysteries of life.

The Master invited him to sit for a cup of tea. As he prepared the tea he began to explain, but the professor kept interrupting with his own opinions.

The Master prepared and poured the tea into the professor's cup. 

The professor continued to state his opinions and speculations.

When the cup was filled to the cup’s brim, the Master kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. “It’s full! No more will go in!” 

“The same with your mind," the Master said. "You are full of your own opinions. How can I teach you anything unless you first empty your cup?”

I have seen several versions of this story, but the message remains the same. If you are full of yourself - the sin of pride - you are not ready to accept wisdom.

I know this is one of my struggles. I am too full of opinions and flawed beliefs that I am not ready to open my heart and mind to learn what God and those wiser than myself have to offer.

As a Secular Franciscan I need to cultivate the kind of humility show by St. Francis. I need to listen rather than opine.focus on my own failings and weaknesses rather than trying to seem more than I am. 

I need to follow the example of St. Francis in humbling himself, and to turn my eyes to imitating Christ as St. Francis strove to do. As St. Francis noted:

"What wonderful majesty! What stupendous condescension! O sublime humility! That the Lord of the whole universe, God and the Son of God, should humble Himself like this under the form of a little bread, for our salvation ...In this world I cannot see the Most High Son of God with my own eyes, except for His Most Holy Body and Blood."

Pax et bonum