Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24
“Self-denial is the prerequisite for generosity toward God and neighbor.”
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) in Scivias (Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1990) 39.
Someone asked me recently to find more short ones. Here’s a winner for you. Just read it ten times so that it sinks in and is so important.
Without self-denial, there is not generosity toward God or neighbor. Why?
Think about it. As a follower of Christ, you must surrender your will to the Father, like Christ did, and acknowledge that the Father will look after you better than I can look after yourself.
The surrender novena points the way: Jesus, I surrender myself too you, take care of everything.
Pray that ten times today. Make it a daily habit. What’s at stake if you don’t? I’m serious here. You cannot be right toward God or generous toward your neighbor without self-denial.
In the words of Jesus, you just might gain the whole world and lose your soul in the process.
What would Hildegard say to us today? She would say, do not just know the way of the Lord, deny yourself and walk it. Live simply, give sacrificially, serve humbly, and love generously.