The religious leaders at the time of Jesus' public ministry were blind fools and hypocrites. They were oppressive to the people in that they bound up "heavy loads, hard to carry, to lay on other men's shoulders" (Mt 23:4). The cause of this blind, foolish, oppressive hypocrisy was pride. This pride manifested itself by the type and manner of works these leaders performed (Mt 23:5), by their seating arrangements at banquets and in synagogues (Mt 23:6), by their clothes (Mt 23:5), and by their titles (Mt 23:7-10).
Do you show signs of pride by the way you talk, work, dress, buy, think, or even pray? Have you avoided signs of pride but deep down you know that you are proud of not looking proud or even of appearing humble? Pride is so deceitful and self-deceptive.
Humble yourself now by repenting, forgiving, and confessing your sins. Humble yourself by apologizing, simplifying, fasting, serving, and suffering. Humble yourself by taking up your daily crosses (see Phil 2:8; cf Lk 9:23). Otherwise, you will lose your spiritual sight and be a fool and a phony, who will crush the spirits of others, break their hearts, and dash their hopes. Pride is a brutal killer of innocent people. Look what the pride of some religious leaders did to Jesus. They tortured, crucified, and murdered God. Repent of pride and humble yourself.
| PRAYER: | Father, by Your grace I decide to humble myself before I hurt more innocent victims. |
| PROMISE: | "Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool." –Is 1:18 |
| PRAISE: | St. Gregory, an Armenian monk, was declared a Doctor of the Church in 2015. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College