Encountering Human Nothingness: Means to Become God’s Own
My Jesus, my firm hope, let me always be most keenly aware of my nothingness, in order that I become all yours, lost and transformed in you … I become all your attributes, wishes, and love. (OOCC, X, p. 227; STA, 542)
There is an interactive relationship between a person’s perception of himself and the fact that he becomes God’s own. A person’s true insight into himself, his abilities and shortcomings is very vital for the manner in which he relates himself to God. If a person counts too much on himself, he will not have the right mind-set to be open to God and his grace. Unless a person is open to God, he cannot become God’s own. Such a person would not recognize the need for God in his life. Therefore, a person’s encountering his limitation and acknowledging his need for God are very essential for his belonging to God. St. Vincent Pallotti accepted this truth as a guiding principle in his life. He was keenly aware of his limitations and shortcomings. He often called himself “nothingness and sin.” The purpose of acknowledging his nothingness was not to think low of himself or to consider himself a useless person, but rather such knowledge of himself would make him recognize his need for God and to be dependent on him. These attitudes, in turn, made St. Vincent cultivate genuine love of God, in the process making him God’s own.
Do I have a right insight into myself? Do I, while acknowledging my good qualities, also recognize my limitations? Do I admit that I need God and his grace in my life? Do I accept the fact that all my capabilities are, in fact, gifts from God? Do I work towards making myself God’s own?
With all my heart I seek you; let me not stray from your commands. Within my heart I treasure your promise that I may not sin against you. (Ps. 119: 10 – 11)