Love Me For Me

Many people believe pride is the root of all sin.

Often times pride keeps us from doing the will of God. We want to do things our own way, and therefore ignore God's way. This is being prideful. Thinking that I'm so good, I don't even need God.

Another form of pride is looking around at other people and thinking how much better we are than them. This is much like the Jewish Pharisee in last Sunday's Gospel reading. He said to himself, '"I'm so good, thank God I'm not like these others." He was prideful and self-richeous.

However, there is a fine line between pride in one's own doing and sinful, pompous pride. This is a line I have been searching for, and am beginning to find. Being a musician is one of my gifts. However, at times I have felt a sort of embarrassment when someone would compliment me after a performance because I did not know how to take the compliment. I did not want to feel prideful or appear prideful. Then I would think how prideful it is to want to appear falsely humble. This became a confusing mess.

I am realizing that the only way to grow in humility, is to be aware of who we are in God's eyes. This is who I am. With all my gifts and talents, as well as my weaknesses. It is how he made me, and I should be grateful for the gifts he gave me. I must always be aware that without God we would not exist and that he is constantly keeping us in existence. After that, the choice to use my talents and develop them is up to me; I have that power. I have the power to grow in virtue by practicing virtuous behavior. I have the power to choose to do God's will.

The trick of it all and the reason we can not simply 'decide' to do it right now, is we must first come closer to God and come to a greater realization of who we are in God's eyes.

St. Joseph, pray for us!