Self-Knowledge

This is an excerpt from Matthew Kelly's "Rediscovering Catholicism." I thought it was a fitting reflection during the season of lent, a time when returning to the sacrament of confession is very prevalent and needed for us all. He writes:

In the spiritual life, it is very important not only to grow in our knowledge and understanding of God, but also in our knowledge and understanding of ourselves. Both knowledge of God and knowledge of self are necessary to make the Journey of the Soul. The two are inextricably linked. And one without the other is useless.

Confessing our sins in the sacrament of Reconciliation helps us develop this self-knowledge. The saints had this self knowledge. They developed it from hours of self-examination and a consistent practice of Reconciliation. They knew their strengths and weaknesses, their faults, failings, flaws, and defects, their talents and abilities, their needs and desires, their hopes and their dreams, their potential and their purpose.

They were not afraid to look at themselves as they really were by the light of God's grace in prayer. They knew that the things of this world are passing, and that when this brief life is over, we will each stand naked in the presence of God. At that moment, money, power, status, possessions, and worldly fame will mean nothing. The only things that has value in that moment is character--the light within you. Who we become is infinitely more important than what we do or what we have. Or as Francis once said, "Remember, you are what you are in the eyes of God, and nothing else."

Get to know yourself. The gifts of self-knowledge include freedom from the world's image of you and compassion for others. The more I get to know myself and my own brokenness, the more I am able to accept and love others. Furthermore, the more I get to know myself, the more I am able to understand others and be tolerant of their faults, failings, flaws addictions, and brokenness. Self-knowledge breeds the ultimate form of compassion.

Get to know yourself and every relationship in your life will improve.