Pride vs Humility: A Spiritual Perspective

A story was once told of a king who visited a prison and interviewed inmates to understand why they were incarcerated. One after another, they claimed innocence. "God is my witness," one said. "I'm a victim of prejudice," another claimed. "I was framed," a third one alleged. But one convict remained silent. "You're probably innocent too?" the king asked. "No, sir," the convict replied. "I'm guilty and I deserve this punishment."

The king was taken aback by the convict's honesty. "Release this rascal from prison right now," he ordered, "before he begins to corrupt these innocent people here." The man walked out of prison not because he was innocent, but because he took responsibility for his actions. This story highlights the importance of humbly acknowledging our mistakes and taking ownership of our actions, a key theme in the gospel's message.

The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14) highlights the contrast between pride and humility. The Pharisee, confident in his own righteousness, prayed boastfully, while the tax collector humbly asked for mercy. Jesus teaches us that humility, not self-righteousness, is the key to (Salvation) being justified before God. As Sirach 35:21 says, "The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds."

Another story that illustrates the dangers of pride is that of a newly commissioned colonel who had just moved into his office when a private entered with a toolbox. To impress the private, the colonel said, "Be with you in a moment, soldier! I just got a call." Picking up the phone, the colonel said, "General, it's you! How can I help you?" A dramatic pause followed. Then the colonel said, "No problem. I'll phone Washington and speak to the President about it." Putting down the phone, the colonel said to the private, "Now, what can I do for you?" The private shuffled his feet and said sheepishly, "Oh, just a little thing, sir. They sent me to hook up your phone."

Pride is the devil's most effective and destructive tool, affecting all of us to some degree. C.S. Lewis described pride as a "spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense." Pride can be difficult to recognize, especially in ourselves. As Lewis noted, "there is no fault which makes a man more unpopular and no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it in ourselves, the more we dislike it in others.

To overcome pride, we need to seek God in prayer and ask Him to reveal any sinful pride in our lives. Developing humility takes time and effort, but it's worth it. As Fenelon said, "Humility is not a grace that can be acquired in a few months: it is the work of a lifetime." By forsaking pride and seeking to humble ourselves, we can grow in humility and become more like Christ.

Humility is a virtue that recognizes our true nature before God. It's about acknowledging our sinfulness and need for mercy. As Pope Francis defines it, humility is "the virtue of the saints and those who let themselves be filled with God."

The Bible emphasizes the importance of humility in several verses. For example, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6; Proverbs 3:34). Another verse says, "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit" (Isaiah 57:15). These verses remind us that humility is essential for a genuine relationship with God.

In conclusion, humility is the key to a genuine relationship with God. By recognizing our sinfulness and need for mercy, we can cultivate humility and live a life of virtue. May we always in humility seek God's mercy and forgiveness. As He pours his abundance favors on us. Amen.