Come to God as a Publican

"like the publican, when we are before God, we must recognize that the little that we have done is entirely God's own gift, and let us implore, for ourselves and for all, God's mercy."

http://www.zenit.org/article-20843?l=english

- From Father Cantalamessa on Luke 18:19-34 October 28th ’07 Mass readings

"it is the prayer of the contrite and humble heart that rises to the very throne of God."

http://www.miraclerosarymission.org/olpsnovenva.html

- From the Novena to Our Lady of Prompt Succor

When an occasion of practicing some virtue was offered, he addressed himself to God saying, "Lord, I cannot do this unless Thou enable me". Then he received strength more than sufficient. When he had failed in his duty, he only confessed his fault saying to God, "I shall never do otherwise, if You leave me to myself. It is You who must hinder my failing and mend what is amiss."

http://www.practicegodspresence.com/brotherlawrence/practicegodspresence02.html
- From Brother Lawrence, Practicing the Presence of God

One key to living in the state of grace, is the understanding and knowing that we are not worthy of it. No matter what we do, we must realize that the good comes from the fruit of God’s love for us, and the bad comes from our love for ourselves.

It can be easy to think “I have made it”. (I know I am going to go to heaven). We can take confidence from the fact that as much as we have died to ourselves and handed over our lives to the service of Christ, that is in fact true.

However, we all have areas of different sizes that we still have not surrendered to God, areas where we still look to ourselves, areas where we have not been redeemed.

One of the largest areas to be concerned about is having pride, as the Pharisee, thinking that we are better than others. We must keep in mind that it is by the sheer grace of God that we have found him, that we should surely fail without His grace.

The other is in the area of complacency. We can think, that since we have made it, that we can relax.

First off, we must appreciate that there is still more areas in our lives to be purified.

Second, we cannot even clear those up, no matter how hard we try, without his Grace.

Third, we cannot hope to have the strength to do good without the guidance of His spirit. We need to ask God to let us see the area in the Spirit of Christ, which is the Holy Spirit. We need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus so that we will know the right thing to do, and so that we are not drawn by temptation.

For all that, we must realize perfectly that the good comes from God, and the selfishness and sin come from us.

So let us pray for guidance and rely on His grace.