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John 13.3: "Jesus, knowing that He came forth from God and that He goeth to God."

An instruction in this morning's epistle. (Trinity iii) St Peter tells us, "Be clothed with humility. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand Of God" (1 Peter 5 & 6). Now pride is the condition of fallen man, to say nothing of fallen angels. We therefore ask God for the gift of humility. But it's dangerous to ask God for this and that. He might give us what we ask for!

For example, we might ask for the gift of charity. In answer to our request, God gives us, not floods of loving feelings, not warm emotions, but difficult people to love. Right ­ so you want to be a charitable Christian? Then here are some enemies. Mr X lives next door to you. Mrs Y sits next to you in church. Love Mr X and love Mrs Y. In the same sort of way, God gives us, not floods of humble feelings, not warm emotions of humility, but humbling experiences. Right ­ so you want to be a humble Christian? Then here are some humiliating happenings. You are a sought after dinner guest, a raconteur, a famous preacher, the confidant and counsellor of Archbishops, a fastidious man of impeccable taste. Here is a long line of elderly gents with prostate cancer, waiting naked for their turn on the X ray machine. Join the queue, wear a catheter..

A friend of mine at theological college told a story against himself. He was very fond of the ladies. And he was very proud of his new black cloak. Medical students swank in their white coats and stethescopes. Musical students swank in their white ties and tails. And theological students swank in their cemetery cloaks. Murray walked a pretty girl back home. To say good night, he gathered up his cloak and made a low sweeping bow. As he stepped back to make this obeisance, he lost his footing and fell off the deck into the bushes some rive feet below. He said afterwards, "Pride goes before a fall. " Without going so far as to say that God intervened and pushed Murray off the deck, we do note that God has a sense of humour, and that our lives are a succession of humbling humiliations. St. Paul said of himself, "That I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given me a thorn in the flesh. That I should not be exalted overmuch." (II Corinthians 12,7). Paul asked to be free of this thorn ­ whatever it was. His request was turned down flat. He was told "No!"

Goodness has to radiate outwards from within. Jesus said, "A good tree bringeth forth good fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit." (Matthew 8,17 & 18). So we fallen men, whose normal condition is overwhelming pride, ask for humility to be poured into our hearts. In response, God permits humbling experiences. But St Peter instructs, "Humble yourselves." He says, "Be clothed with humility."

Clothes are worn on the outside. Is there any way goodness can work in the opposite direction, from outside into the heart? Not really. Yet a well known spiritual director, the late Baron von Hugel, said something that helps us understand St Peter. The Baron said, "I kiss my son because I love him. But also in order that I may love him." If we can not have clean hearts, we can at least have clean hands . If we can not have loving feelings, we can discipline ourselves to carry out loving deeds. If we can not have humble emotions, we can discipline ourselves to speak and behave in a modest manner. In the last resort, charity and humility can only be gifts from God. But we behave lovingly, we behave humbly in order that we may become charitable, in order that we may become humble. Be clothed with humility. Humble yourselves.

But a warning: we shall never know if or when we are charitable or humble. Now at last I'm a humble man? I'm more humble today than I was yesterday? Only God, and sometimes our neighbours, can know the truth about our virtues or supposed virtues.

Humility is not the same as inferiority complex or guilt complex. Humility means realism, truthfulness, honesty. If you are tall there is no point in claiming to be short. If you are thin there is no point in claiming to be fat. Facts are facts. To recognize and to accept realities as they are, is not to practice pride. It is to practise honesty. ("Well yes, I am 7 feet tall and I do need a long bed. ")

What are the facts about you? Yes well, you are a pride filled sinner. But there are other facts about you. Before there was any creation, before the universes began, God planned you in Christ (Ephesians I , 4 ). God created you in Christ ( Colossians 1,16). God died for you in Christ (Colossians 1 , 20) . Doesn't that make you somebody! God raised you in Christ (Ephesians 2,1). Even now as you go about your daily business, you are ascended in Christ (Ephesians 2,6). Your life is hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3, 3) . Because you are in Christ, the Spirit proceeding from the Father to His Son proceeds also to you (Galatians 4, 6). In his gospel John tells us of Jesus, "Knowing that He came forth from God and that He goeth to God" (13,3). There's a sense in which that's also true of you. Of course you differ from Jesus both in kind and in degree. But there is a sense in which you do come forth from God and return to God! When you stop to consider the facts about yourself, there can be no place for inferiority complex!

Yet these same facts humble you. Who are you? asks the Prayer Book catechism. And you reply, "An organ or limb of Christ ­ the child of God, an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven" (page 544). You know who you are. You take part in Christ. Such knowledge confers not only humility, but also calm confidence, secure serenity.

"Jesus, knowing that He came forth from God and that He goeth to God." To Whom with His Father in the unity of Their Spirit be thanks evermore. Amen.