Spiritual Pride

11-05-2017Weekly ReflectionFather Tony Okolo, CSSp

Who doesn't desire the praise and respect of others? Who doesn't like to be recognized or to be praised? We want others to see us at our best with all of our strengths and achievements, rather than at our worst with all of our faults and shortcomings.

Prophet Malachi in the first reading of today calls the attention of priests who prefer the praise and respect of people rather than giving glory to God. He says "If you do not listen, if you do not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name; says the Lord of hosts. I will send a curse upon you and your blessing I will make a curse." Prophet Malachi condemns the attitude of priests who have abandoned true worship and service of God for self-praise and fame. In the days of the Prophet Malachi, many priests had lost the true meaning in the worship of God.

Many were no longer preaching the message to condemn the evil in the society or call people to conversion and repentance, but preaching to draw attention and respect for themselves. The prophet equally warns against the danger of shifting praise, honor and respect due to God to themselves. This is because true respect for God inclines us to humble ourselves and to submit to his wisdom and guidance. Respect for God invites us to a sincere humility of heart. It is in this humility of heart and service that a proper worship of God is found. True worship of God demands absolute trust and faith in what we celebrate.

The same theme of true worship of God in sincerity and humility of heart is what Matthew addresses in the Gospel. Thus, in today's gospel reading, Jesus warns the disciple and the crowds about the actions of the Pharisees because they go to a great length to draw attention to their religious status and practices. They prefer to stand in the market places to say their prayers so as to be seen and win peoples admiration. That is why Jesus says, "All their works are performed to be seen." Thus, in their misguided zeal for religion, they sought recognition and honor for themselves rather than to God. Their religious action is focused in attracting attention to themselves for people to see them call them rabbi hence, Jesus condemns them for their hypocrisy.

Therefore, today's liturgy invites all of us priests and everyone to watch against the danger of seeking for self-praise instead of God's glory. We are warned especially, we priests and leaders of the danger of teaching and not practicing what we teach. We are warned against the danger of spiritual pride, which has its root in trying to draw attention to ourselves without inner conversion. We are warned of the danger of being passive and not paying full attention in the Eucharistic celebration we participate in.

We are rather called to a life of proper service in the God's church because the highest honor in the church of God is not leadership but service. We are called to give our life for others for it is in giving our life that we gain life. We are called to match our words with our actions. We are invited to have faith in the celebration we participate knowing that God is present in all our celebration. We are called to seek God in humility of heart for he knows and sees us as we are. Let each of us find out where we can render a service and render it with all our heart.

Happy Sunday to you all and let all the Saints we celebrate this month intercede for each of you and your families. May the souls of all our departed love ones find peace in God's heavenly kingdom. Amen.

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