de Sales: complaint and self-love

Monday, June 24, 2013
    Feast of the Birth of John the Baptist
Meditation:
    Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
    —Philippians 2:14-16 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Complain as little as possible of your wrongs, for, as a general rule you may be sure that complaining is sin: [because] self-love always magnifies our injuries.
    ... François de Sales (1567-1622), Introduction to the Devout Life [1609], London: Rivingtons, 1876, III.iii, p. 139 (see the book)
    See also Phil. 2:14-16; Rom. 4:2; Gal. 6:2; Phil. 2:4; 2 Tim. 3:2-4; Philemon 1:18; Jas. 5:9; 1 Pet. 2:12,20; 1 John 3:17
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, reduce my concerns about myself and magnify concerns for others. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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