The link between humility and sorrow

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"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:3

I have heard the first beatitude that the Lord gave expounded upon in a couple of different ways. There is one translation of the bible that even says, "blessed are those realize their spiritual poverty."

St. Macarius The Great links this to what is written in the Psalms, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, these, oh God, you will not despise." He says this:

"For the faithful, truthloving soul...esteems itself and its diligence and pains and labor, all unworthy in comparison with the promises of the Spirit. This is the "poor in spirit," whom the Lord pronounced blessed; this is he who is contrite in heart." - Homily XXIX

It seems to me that humility cannot come without brokenness, that it may just be common sense to assume that no one has a voluntary humility, that they must see the limits of what they are capable of and develop a real sort of view of themselves. Often we find that who we are is not who we want to be. When we begin to see the broadness of our shortcomings and see the weight of everything God offers to us, it may be this that produces the diligence of spirit that St. Marcarius speaks of.

Beloved, let us also ask God for this humility, knowing we must go through suffering and sorrow to obtain it, but seeing what God is offering to us, let us pray for a heart that would say, " I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18)."