Pride.

Each of us has already met a person who was unsympathetic to him because he behaved condescendingly. We are more acutely aware of this, especially today when money is attributed with unlimited power, and we see how many people can bend their spines and bow down to the rich, not so much to them as to their money. No one likes a proud person. Therefore, through today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us instructions on how to act to please people, but especially God. He clearly says: For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Perhaps his fellow diners were surprised why he did not praise the proud and arrogant. But Jesus knew why he was doing it because he was reaching for the root of pride, which is the devil. He was the devil who refused to serve because of his pride, which is why he was cast into hell. It was the devil who led the first people to sin through pride, and they wanted to be like God, thereby resisting his love. It is the devil who leads us to avarice, fornication, intemperance, envy, anger, laziness… We can boldly say that the cause of every sin is pride.

Pride takes many forms. One of them is false godliness. How is that possible, you ask? How can pride hide behind godliness? Someone will say to himself: I am chosen by God, and the rest of you are not even worthy of me establishing contact with you. How do we characterize this manifestation? It is pride, and it has its roots in Evil! And it is even worse if a group of people arises that claims God’s election, literally creates a sect, and asserts that their path to holiness is the most correct and best. But let’s not forget that anyone who thinks they are something more than others is already on the wrong path. Therefore, Jesus advises us to protect ourselves from superiority over others and from thinking that only through us does the Holy Spirit work.

However,in life, we ​​often encounter another kind of pride hidden behind career and money. Such people think that everything can be bought and that they can buy heaven after all with mammon. However, it is a big mistake! How far are they from fundamental values ​​and certainties? Christ told the rich young man that a camel would sooner go through the eye of a needle than a rich man would enter the kingdom of heaven. The danger of pride was beautifully described by our ancestors, who said: Pride breathes hell! Pride precedes a fall! And because pride pierces the conscience of many, this word has become very unpopular nowadays. It is replaced by other concepts, such as dignity, self-confidence, and pride, and is even approved as the behavior style of people of higher social status. But despite these cover names, pride remains one of the cardinal sins. Pride consists in overestimating one’s person and underestimating others. Such division creates a barrier between people and is a source of mistrust, insincerity, and often even anger and hatred.

Pride is fundamentally opposed to love, the fulfillment of the law. A proud person cannot truly love, as they are unable to lose their ‘I’ in service to others. They cannot appreciate the values ​​and spiritual beauty of their brothers, nor can they find the path to kindness and mercy. Most importantly, the proud cannot find their way to God. This spiritual loss is the most serious consequence of pride, underscoring the need for humility and the rejection of pride.

We suffer from this disease in different shades. But God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. Are we so rich that we can afford to despise God’s gifts? Are we so wise that we can not listen to God’s word? Will our pride allow us to ask God to save us? We lose a lot through pride; we gain a lot through love and humility. If we think about this divine arithmetic, we will celebrate and realize the love that cleanses us from pride, drives us to meet our neighbors, and forces us to serve and not seek our satisfaction. A love that is kind, patient, and does not envy, a love that does not vainly shut down or puff up.

The young priest carefully prepared for each sermon. Even though he knew it by heart, he also took it to the pulpit in written form. He believed that the listeners liked his homilies. He was also confirmed in this by a lady who came after every mass to ask for a paper with a sermon. One Sunday, when he thought he had given perhaps his best sermon, the woman came again for the paper. He did not delay, and as he handed her the paper, somewhat out of vanity and perhaps also out of desire for praise, he asked what she would say about her. The woman looked at the paper and said: As always! This paper fits the bottom of my parrot cage perfectly. Those who want to be happy will take Jesus’ words to heart and protect themselves from pride, even if it is difficult! But let’s try to live so that others like us for our modesty and friendliness.