Reflection
One of the attitudes that often seems absent in our present culture is reverence. Reverence has been defined as the virtue that keeps human beings from trying to act like gods. It implies humility in the face of both profound experiences and the experiences of daily living. This attitude underlies civility and respect for others. It enables us to see that we are not the centers of the universe and causes us to act in ways that build rather than undermine community.
Prayer
May I have a spirit of reverence.
Action
How can you practice reverence in a culture where you often encounter lack of civility, disrespect, and a belief that the individual is superior to the common good? Examine your own attitudes. Where do you need to change?
Suggested Reading
Love one another with familial affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10
Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!
Luke 5:26
Even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor, are masterpieces of God’s creation, made in his own image, destined to live for ever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect.
Pope Francis
Just as white light consists of colored rays, so reverence for life contains all the components of ethics: love, kindliness, sympathy, empathy, peacefulness and power to forgive.
Albert Schweitzer
Reverence lies behind civility and all the graces that make life in society bearable and pleasant.
Paul Woodruff
Let parents then bequeath to their children not riches but the spirit of reverence.
Plato
Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence.
Henry David Thoreau
Whoever gives reverence receives reverence.
Rumi
All I ask now is to stand speechless before a flower.
Marty Rubin
Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.
John Milton
Only reverence can restrain violence – reverence for human life and the environment.
William Sloane Coffin
Real Life – the real life of joy we are meant to be living – begins when we restore a sense of reverence to our daily affairs. Today, search for the Sacred in the ordinary with gratitude in your heart and you will surely find it.
Sarah Ban Breathnach