Episode 2466: The Path to God - Nightly Episode

“O my God, at the end of this day I thank You most heartily for all the graces I have received from You. I am sorry that I have not made better use of them. I am sorry for all the sins I have committed against You. Forgive me, O my God, and graciously protect me this night. Blessed Virgin Mary, my dear heavenly mother, take me under your protection. St. Joseph, my dear Guardian Angel, and all you saints in heaven, pray for me. Sweet Jesus, have pity on all poor sinners, and save them from hell. Have mercy on the suffering souls in purgatory. Amen”
The Path to God: Humility and Divine Friendship
Wwe delve into the timeless wisdom of the saints and the sacred scriptures. Today, we reflect on the profound relationship between humility and our intimate friendship with God. As St. Giles teaches us, “No man can attain to the knowledge of God but by humility. The way to mount high is to descend.” This great paradox of our faith—the need to descend in order to ascend—reveals the path to divine friendship. Through humility, we open ourselves to God, allowing Him to lift us to heights we could never reach on our own.
Dom Augustin Guillerand, a Carthusian monk, captures the wonder of this divine friendship, reminding us of God’s unceasing attentiveness and love, no matter how small or insignificant we may feel. In this episode, we will explore how humility prepares our souls to enter into this sacred friendship with God, who continually invites us into His very life.
Humility as the Foundation of Knowledge of God
Humility is often misunderstood as weakness or self-deprecation, but in reality, it is the key to unlocking the mysteries of our relationship with God. St. Giles, a humble saint known for his deep connection to God, beautifully expresses this truth when he says, “No man can attain to the knowledge of God but by humility. The way to mount high is to descend.” In the spiritual life, we cannot approach God with pride or self-reliance. Instead, we must recognize our own smallness, our complete dependence on His grace.
Jesus Himself gives us the ultimate example of humility. In Philippians 2:6-8, we read, “Though he was in the form of God, [He] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.” Christ’s humility opened the way for our salvation, and it is through humility that we, too, draw closer to God.
True humility leads us to acknowledge our need for God in every aspect of our lives. It clears away the obstacles of pride, allowing God’s grace to work freely within us. When we humble ourselves before God, we make room for Him to reveal Himself to us more fully.

Divine Friendship: God's Ever-Present Love
Humility is not only the foundation of our knowledge of God but also the gateway to divine friendship. Dom Augustin Guillerand writes with deep reverence about this relationship between the humble soul and God. He says, “The saints have written wonderful pages on the theme of the divine friendship. 'What dignity and what glory on the part of Almighty God,' says St. John Chrysostom, 'to be ever attentive to listen to us.'”
God, in His infinite majesty, condescends to listen to us, poor creatures of dust and clay. We are like tiny flowers, blooming only for a moment in the grand scheme of eternity, yet He bends down from His throne to hear our prayers, to caress us with His love, and to raise us up to Himself.
This divine friendship is something so extraordinary that it is beyond human understanding. Guillerand continues, “We have but to turn to Him, and at once He gives us audience. He speaks to us, caresses us; He gives Himself. He stoops to our wretchedness and raises us up to His throne.” Even though we might weary or offend our human friends with our constant presence or lack of courtesy, God is always ready to receive us. He never grows tired of our prayers or our needs. Instead, He delights in drawing us closer to His heart.
The Humility to Accept God’s Love
The divine friendship that Dom Guillerand describes is only possible when we have the humility to accept God’s love. This humility requires that we see ourselves as we truly are—weak, imperfect, and in need of God’s grace. Yet, at the same time, it allows us to see God as He truly is—infinitely loving, merciful, and always ready to forgive.
This is why humility is so essential in our relationship with God. Without it, we would resist His love, thinking ourselves either unworthy of it or too self-sufficient to need it. But with humility, we recognize that God’s love is not something we earn or deserve—it is a gift freely given to us. All we need to do is open our hearts to receive it.
When we approach God with humility, we allow Him to transform us. We stop trying to control our own spiritual growth and instead let God lead us. This is the path to true peace and joy, as we come to rest in the love of God.
Conclusion
In today’s episode, we have reflected on the deep connection between humility and divine friendship. As St. Giles reminds us, the way to know God is through humility, and as Dom Guillerand so beautifully describes, God is always ready to welcome us into His divine friendship. By embracing humility, we open ourselves to this incredible relationship with God, who delights in our presence and draws us closer to His heart.

As we go forth today, let us ask for the grace to grow in humility and to deepen our friendship with God. May we always remember that no matter how small or weak we may feel, God is always with us, ready to receive us and raise us up to Himself.

Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the gift of Your love and for the friendship You offer to us, unworthy though we are. Grant us the grace to grow in humility, that we may draw closer to You and receive the fullness of Your love. Help us to trust in Your mercy and to turn to You in all things. Strengthen our hearts, that we may remain faithful to You and serve You with joy and humility.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.