Pride is the Chief Characteristic of Satan

Both pride and presumption foster immaturity by generating delusions of grandeur that always ends in disillusionment. These vices can only be eliminated through practicing the virtue of humility

We are delighted to share this post written by our friend Fr Sean Sheehy reflecting on the Gospel this week, 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Humility Keeps Us Grounded

Among the greatest obstacles to spiritual development are a lack of humility and presumption. A lack of humility paves the way for pride, superiority complexes, and conceit. Pride is the chief characteristic of Satan. Presumption creates an attitude of entitlement causing “behaviour that tends to be arrogant, disrespectful, and transgressing the limits of what is permitted or appropriate.” The antidote to both is the virtue of humility, which is essential if we are to mature as human beings and build just communities. Both pride and presumption foster immaturity by generating delusions of grandeur that always ends in disillusionment. These vices can only be eliminated through practicing the virtue of humility. Humility comes from Latin and means “earth” or “ground.” To be humble is to be down to earth or well-grounded by having a modest view of one’s own importance.

Humility Keeps Us Real

God commands us to, “Conduct your affairs with humility and you will be loved more than the giver of gifts. Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favour with God … charity atones for sins” (Sir 3:17-29). We humble ourselves by submitting to God as He reveals Himself through Jesus and disciplines us through His Church’s teaching and practice. The Holy Spirit spells out that discipline: “You younger men must be obedient to the elders. In your relations with one another, clothe yourselves in humility, because God ‘is stern with the arrogant but to the humble He shows kindness.’ Bow humbly under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may lift you high. Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you” (1 Pet 5:5-7). It takes humility to obey God and those whom He places over us as His representatives. Obedience to God flows from humbly accepting that we were “bought at a great price and must not enslave our self to human beings” (1 Cor 7:23). Humble people aren’t doormats; rather they boldly uphold their God-given dignity and treat themselves and others with deep respect recognizing that they and others are created in God’s image and likeness. Thus humility ensures honest relationships with one another. This virtue frees us from being ashamed of our weaknesses because we see them as reminders to turn to God and others for help. It motivates us to listen, to seek forgiveness, encourage others, and be unafraid to serve. In humility St. Paul was able to say: “And so I willingly boasted of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor 12:9).

Humility Brings Joy

Humility makes us grateful to God because we’re keenly aware of how just and merciful He is towards us who are so undeserving. So we strive to act justly and mercifully towards others as God acts towards us. The humble man or woman is joyful because, “The just rejoice and exult before God; they are glad and rejoice” (Ps 68:4). Prideful and presumptuous people are never joyful because they’re too self-absorbed. The humble, on the other hand, find joy because they know they’re not perfect and are open to correction from the Lord and their friends, which enable them to mature and become more self-possessed and more capable of making a gift of themselves to others. Only the humble joyfully accept the need to face their flaws and seek the necessary help to change their life for the better. This attitude is what brings us to Confession.

The Model of Humility

Jesus personifies humility. He invites every person to “Take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart” (Mt 11:28-30). Jesus’ yoke is His humble submission to His Father’s will in all situations and events. As our model of humility, Jesus teaches us that being humble is a key characteristic of being Christian. Humble people don’t talk about their humility; they just speak and act humbly using their gifts to enrich others. Humility keeps us down to earth. How? St. Paul answers this question: “Don’t think more yourself than you ought. Estimate yourself soberly, in keeping with the measure of faith God has apportioned to you … We have gifts that differ according to the favour bestowed on each of us” (Rom 3:3, 6).

Humility Spurs Us to Serve

Jesus warns us: “For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled and he who humbles himself shall be exalted” (Lk 14:7-11). After He instituted the Holy Eucharist by washing His Apostles’ feet Jesus demonstrated the necessity of humble service as a sign of His followers. Thus He made humility an essential requirement for leadership and membership in His Church. Jesus taught that humble service is the key to greatness. He said, “You know that among the pagans those who seem to exercise authority lord it over them. It cannot be like that with you. Anyone among you who aspires to greatness must serve the rest; whoever wants to rank first among you must serve the needs of all” (Mk 10:42-45). After His Resurrection Jesus drove this point home when He commissioned Peter, as the head of His Church, to “Feed my lambs …Tend my sheep … Feed my sheep” (Jn 21:15-17). This is the task which Jesus gives every bishop, priest, and deacon to humbly carry out.

Humility Is the Antidote to Pride and Presumption

It isn’t easy to be humble since we’re more competitive than collaborative. The world is Satan’s kingdom where pride and presumption are dominant and so, because we live in this fallen world, we are tempted by Satan to be like him. This is why pride is a deadly sin and presumption lulls us into thinking that God is all merciful and we ignore the fact that He is also all just and therefore rewards those who do good and condemns those who do evil. God’s justice ensures that there is no forgiveness without repentance and restitution for the damage caused by one’s sins. Therefore we need the Holy Spirit to convert our spirit from its proneness to being prideful and presumptuous to being humble and service-oriented. God assures us that He “resists the proud but bestows favour on the humble” (Jas 4:6). The Holy Spirit urges us to, “Submit to God; resist the devil and he will take flight. Draw close to God and He will draw close to you” (Jas 4:7-8). Since Satan personifies pride and presumptuousness, we have to be on our guard against his temptations to think and act as if we’re better or more deserving and entitled than others. Satan tempts us to strive for greatness in man’s eyes, which is about being served rather than serving, but it’s far more important to be great in God’s eyes which is about serving rather than being served. Greatness in God’s eyes is measured by the humility of our prayer, worship, and service while greatness in man’s eyes is measured by our possessions and servants. This is why Jesus revealed that “Unless you become like little children you will not enter the Kingdom of God” (Mt 18:2-6). The humble die in the Lord and gain everything but the prideful and presumptuous do not and lose everything. “Happy now are the dead who die in the Lord! … Yes, they shall find rest from their labours, for their good works accompany them.” (Rev 14:13)