tax collector. I fast twice a week, and give a tenth of all my income to the temple.’ In the meantime the tax collector, standing far off, would
not even lift his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’ I tell you, when this man went back to his
house, he had been reconciled with God, but not the other. For whoever makes himself out to be great will be humbled, and whoever humbles
himself will be raised up.”
Reflection:
Philosophers, theologians, and saints are unanimous in
considering pride as the mother of all evils. Pride was the sin of
the fallen angels. Saint Augustine defined pride as “the love of one’s
own excellence.” Conversely, humility is considered the
foundation to all virtues. Socrates argued that humility is
the greatest of all virtues. So did Teresa of Avila. For Anthony Mary
Claret, humility is the mother of all virtues. Even science is
catching up with this insight now: A study published in 2013
by Bradley Owens and colleagues at Brigham Young University has
shown that expressed humility has significantly positive impact
on organizational outcomes, leadership effectiveness, greater
academic and work performance, and job satisfaction. In other
words, an attitude of humility wins you friends, opens you up
to others, and earns you the good will and cooperation of
others; and all these, besides the highest approval of God! Indeed,
the one who humbles himself will be exalted, not only in heaven
but on earth as well.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2022