Bible
Study: Romans 11, 1 to 29. And Luke 14, 7 to 11.
A simple
way of understanding the meaning of pride is giving ourselves credit for that
which is not ours. To be proud is to assume that we are what we are by our own
power or that the Grace of God is no longer responsible for our goodness. To be
proud is to start thinking that we could ever be better than anyone else. To be
proud is to see ourselves as God’s chosen elects and then begin to look at
others as infidels, children of Satan or people doomed for destruction
forgetting that God’s love is universal for every people and every nation
regardless of tribe, colour, race or religion.
A second
reading at what St. Paul writes about in our first reading today shows that the
problem with the Jews was that at some point they became proud as they started
seeing themselves as exclusive children of God, a chosen race, a holy nation, a
people set aside. They were so proud that they could not recognise God in the
person of Jesus
thereby leaving God with no other option but to turn to the so-called infidels,
the “unchosen” race, the Gentiles.
Pride is like being drunk with wine. In that state of drunkenness, we
always assume all is well, even when our house is burning, we still find
courage to smile at the flames because we cannot see clearly. Pride, like
strong drink prevents us from seeing the truth. It was pride that made this
chosen race reject Jesus Christ. They couldn’t just imagine that God would
decide to stoop himself so low as to take our human flesh and be called a son
of a carpenter. St. Paul says: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that
should not see and ears that should not hear, down to this very day.” Even
David had prophesied saying: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a
pitfall and a retribution for them; let their eyes be darkened so that they
cannot see, and bend their backs forever.” St. Paul then concludes by saying,
that God had no choice to turn to the Gentiles so as to make the proud Jews
jealous. “So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through
their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel
jealous.” Romans 11, 8 to 11.
That is what happens when we become proud of ourselves. The moment we
begin to see ourselves as better than others, the moment we begin to take
absolute delight in talking badly about others and discrediting them as “good-for-nothing,”
God does something that would make us jealous of the same people we are looking
down on. It is like taking a place at the high table when invited for a ceremony
only for the host to politely ask you to step down for a more important guest. This
was the very parable that Jesus Christ gave to us in today’s Gospel passage to
teach us the importance of humility.
It is a bad idea to ever esteem ourselves as better than other people or
to see others as inferior or enemies of God while we consider ourselves as God’s
precious diamonds. Even though it makes perfect sense to assume that we who are
struggling to keep God’s commandments are more loved by God, and that those who
are not even trying at all are simply good for nothing sinners hated by God,
the truth is that God does not love us according to our holiness. Even, it is like he cares for the
one who went astray than for the ninety nine who have no need for repentance.
And again, even though it is normal to give ourselves a pat on the back
for training ourselves in virtue and actually feel good about our achievements,
the truth is that we dare not become proud as whatever we are is simply because
of God’s grace at work in us. If that same grace were to be given to the people
we condemn in our hearts, they may even do more than us.
In conclusion, there is no need to be proud at all.
Let us
Pray:
Lord
Jesus, may I never become so drunk with pride that I become blind to the fact
that it is only your grace that sustains me. Teach me to be humble always and
never look down on others. Amen.
Good morning.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. Happy Weekend.
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