Dispel Our Pride and Be Humble

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ: Today’s reading and Gospel call us to dispel our Pride and be humble to the Lord. Pride is a two edged sword. We are taught to “take pride in work” or be “proud of who we are.” Yet pride can be one of the greatest sins we can commit. Jesus tells us, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12) Jesus chastised the Pharisees for their vainglory or their excessive boastfulness about their own self. He criticized them for being holy on the outside but empty on the inside. Jesus’ words about hypocrisy reveal how easy it is to become satisfied with the external displays of religion and lose sight of our inward faith and suffering. Pride sets subtle snares which we let take control of our lives. When ever we imagine that we are in control of our lives or someone else’s life, then we take on the role of God. This is what happened to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The only way we can become like God is through the power of the cross, through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Not through our own vanity. Pride also keeps us from recognizing and asking for true forgiveness for our own sins. When we examine our misery, we should raise our eyes to the Lord, the Father of all mercy. Misery can lead to discouragement if we try to handle these issues on our own. This discouragement comes from our pride which prevents us from looking to the Lord for help. We try to use our own strength to lift us up in these times, but our own strength is not enough. During Lent, we have made good resolutions. How do you expect to keep these resolutions without the help of God. Scripture tells us, “Woe to him that is alone, for when he falleth, he hath none to lift him up.” (Eccl 4:10) Woe to him who relies solely on his own strength to put these good resolutions into action. When you fall, who will help you up. When you fall, you will remain in misery and become discouraged. We have now midway through the third week of Lent. Lent can become discouraging. Examine your resolutions with Christ. Ask him to help you. But also glorify him in your success. Today’s message in the Little Black Book is about prayer and signs of prayer. The message is that not only should we look to God during low times, but also during our high points. We should also lift up our work to the Lord. We should sign our works over to the Lord. This made reference to an old custom of writing JMJ or AMDG on the top of class papers. JMJ stands for Jesus, Mary and Joseph and AMDG stands for Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam or “For the greater glory of God.” Sign your work over to the Lord. In one corner of your school papers, place the initials AMDG to offer this work up to the Lord. A Simple Prayer “Jesus, give me a love for all that is good and holy and pleasing to you. Create a clean heart in me – one that desires to serve and not be served. Fill me with your love and humility, so that I may help bring people to you.” Yours in Christ Michael Marcon