By Martin MM, CSC –
Readings: Rom 11:29-36; Lk 14:12-14
Today’s liturgy reminds us that Jesus is the true light and we need to seek him with humility. There is one stumbling block which keeps us away from receiving the light of Jesus is, the pride, the first and basic sin of humanity and the root of all other evil in the world. It is so ingrained in our very hearts, that we could not seek his light.
Through the Gospel, Jesus addresses us. He tells us once more where our pride will lead us. We will be excluded from the kingdom of God, if we will not admit or repent from our pride and our lack of charity. Instead of thanking God for the many gifts, at times we demand thanks from God for being a pious and charitable people.
Sometimes we think of saying to God that we have many virtues; we avoided serious injustices; we did not commit adultery; we fasted often and we paid all our dues. But we fail to realize that sometimes it was all done, not for the honor and glory of God, but for our own honor and glory. Pride is unhelpful because it spoils every other virtue we practice and every good work we do. Charity, or fraternal love, cannot flourish in a proud heart. For a proud heart is so full of self that it has no room for others. No true love of God can exist in a proud heart.
A few simple straight questions can tell us whether or not we are proud. Do we like others to see and hear of our good works, or do we prefer to do them in secret? Do we give ourselves generously to charitable causes when no list of benefactors is published? Do we always try to find an excuse for the failings of others, or do we find excuses for our own faults only?
God wishes that none of us be suffering from pride. If we recognize that we are on the stage of pride, let us pray to God from the bottom of our hearts for the true Christian virtue of humility, and look for every possible occasion to practice it. Thus, may our charitable works be known only to God.