The Furnace of Humiliation

The heading comes from one of the readings for the feast of St. Mark (today).

For gold is tested in the fire,
and those found acceptable, in the furnace of humiliation. Ecclus. 2:5

That's fantastic! Those found acceptable are tried in the furnace of humiliation. Apply it to the death of Christ. Apply it to Christ's body, the church. It's a challenging word.

Speaking to a conversation that I had with a friend yesterday, we are all humiliated before God by our own sin. We're humiliated precisely because we are conscious of it, that we are powerless before it. We are humiliated because the possibility of the kingdom seems always before us, and yet we find ways to subvert its coming. But it is important that we are not paralyzed by our humiliation. The gold is not burned up in the fire, nor does the humiliation overcome us. Perhaps there is redemptive value in suffering humiliation, even the humiliation that we suffer before God when we cannot be perfect even as our father, the humiliation of knowing that we made the wrong choices. The embarrassing family member that we kept at a distance. Broken promises to a spouse. The pleasures of fine dining while the homeless are just outside the door.

The furnace of humiliation refines the hope of a contrite heart.

Trust in him, and he will help you;
make your ways straight, and hope in him. (v.6)

It is the interest on our debt which, having already been paid, makes us love more. It is a vehicle for grace.

John Chrysostom would say that all the choices we make for the easy road in this life will be countered by difficulties encountered in the next. There is some hope, still, in the redemptive possibilities of knowing our sin and being humiliated by it.

For the Lord is compassionate and merciful;
he forgives sins and saves in time of distress. (v.11)