It is becoming more and more difficult to understand the different elements of sin that separate us from the love of God. Not because God has stopped loving us but because we have replaced our love for God with a love of self over and above God.
This is not something that the world will teach you in that the very language of the worldly is meant to mislead one into an acceptance of sin most especially self sin.
We are taught from a young age to have self esteem therefore in everything we do many of us expect to be praised and complimented on our efforts. The problem begins when the praise is not forthcoming and the compliments cease, do we still feel worthy and validated? Or are we offended that our efforts have been overlooked or at worse criticized?
We are also taught to be successful in everything we attempt, as one athlete was reminded when he was in training, 'no-one remembers who ran second'. This is an unhappy truth, therefore from a very young age competitiveness is driven into us and a fierce desire to 'be the best', what the world does not teach is that these efforts come at a price. The need to win at all times may cost you your soul, is it worth it?
Another element of pride is over sensitivity in that a person will complain of any criticism directed at themselves in a peeved tone that the criticism is unfair. Or they will perceive any criticism as an attack upon their person and reputation and lash out at your lack of sensitivity to their needs. They fail to recognise this fact, who made them so important that everyone must take into account their feelings and so withhold the truth from them lest it hurt?
The consequences to the soul once pride has gained a foothold can be devastating especially if the soul fails to recognise the Hand of God at work within their lives. Oftentimes pride is Ego centric optimism in that we prize ourselves more highly than is warranted we make ourselves the centre of attention and become peeved when others don't notice us.
At times even our prayers can become pride centred or to quote an old saying 'some pray with claws'. We cannot pray to our loving God if our hearts are full of criticism of another as if God had made an aberration for creating the person who has vexed us. Many fail to look within themselves and ask if they are that perfect that they can criticize Gods own child to Him who created this aberration with equal amounts of love.
Yet again another form of pride is over zealousness. In this case even 'holiness' becomes a contest where if a person prays 3 times a day the 'over zealous' person will inform you that they pray 6 times a day. If you attend Mass 3 times a week the over zealous person will tell you that you go 5 times a week and on it goes. This type of false 'holiness' is dangerous to the soul in that they think themselves righteous and that everyone is merely jealous of them and so they will not listen to any rebukes or warnings. As St. Thomas More once said, "The Devil, the proud spirit, cannot endure to be mocked." The Devil cannot stand to be corrected either.
Pride is one sin from which all others are born, as the Catholic Catechism teaches us, "Hatred of God comes from pride. It is contrary to the love of God, whose goodness it denies, and whom it presumes to curse as the one who forbids sins and inflicts punishment'"(CCC 2094). When we become easily offended and quick to go on the defensive it shows us that there is an element of pride within our own souls that needs to be dealt with quickly and decisively.
The most dangerous form of pride is the person that thinks they can use the Sacraments for their own nefarious purpose. When a person holds no true repentance and does not reform their way they have become their own 'god' and will do as they please in the foolish belief that ' God loves me anyway'. God does not love or admire sin! Nothing is hidden from God, so if a soul places itself in a position where it will knowingly sin they will incur His wrath rather than His Mercy. Let us remember what Jesus said to the Pharisee's and recollect ourselves with those very words that we too will not put Gods love to the test.
Pride is essentially stealing from God in that we acclaim ourselves as our own inventors doers of our own good and give no recognition to God who is Supreme Creator and Judge of ALL.
The ultimate weapon to defeat pride is humility. A true knowledge of oneself in the eyes of God. A humble heart remains contrite and grateful that God loves them despite themselves. Humility is praising God for the work He is doing within you and to give Him the glory rather than yourself.
The best remedy to keep pride at bay is to live a life of obedience to the Church's teaching in all that we do and say.
Peace of Christ to ALL
Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.
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