Feb. 27, 2018 Week 4 - Divine Mercy - Love is not boastful or arrogant
Feb. 27, 2018 Week 4 - Divine Mercy - Love is not boastful or arrogant
“I know more than you do.” We rarely say this out loud, but it’s a thought that passes through our mind time and time again. This prideful thought shows itself in two subtle ways--boasting and arrogance. We see in the gospel today how Jesus criticized the way the scribes and Pharisees flaunt their religious knowledge and their esteemed position, but do very little to show love. True love, as St. Paul wrote, is not boastful or arrogant.
How do we deal with our own arrogance and pride when they show up in our words and actions? Pope Francis warned us that such attitudes can be found in well-meaning Christians. He said, “It is important for Christians to show their love by the way they treat family members who are less knowledgeable about the faith, weak or less sure in their convictions. At times the opposite occurs: the supposedly mature believers within the family become unbearably arrogant. Love, on the other hand, is marked by humility; if we are to understand, forgive and serve others from the heart, our pride has to be healed and our humility must increase.”
St. Paul says that “knowledge puffs up,” whereas “love builds up” (1 Cor 8:1). As Pope Francis observed, “Some think that they are important because they are more knowledgeable than others; they want to lord it over them.” Then he offered this insight, “What really makes us important is a love that understands, shows concern, and embraces the weak.”
What are some of the hidden (or not so hidden) ways in which we consider ourselves superior to others? Have we ever allowed pride to encroach on our otherwise sincere desire to witness to the faith. If so, how can we humble ourselves before those that we may have wounded?
“I know more than you do.” We rarely say this out loud, but it’s a thought that passes through our mind time and time again. This prideful thought shows itself in two subtle ways--boasting and arrogance. We see in the gospel today how Jesus criticized the way the scribes and Pharisees flaunt their religious knowledge and their esteemed position, but do very little to show love. True love, as St. Paul wrote, is not boastful or arrogant.
How do we deal with our own arrogance and pride when they show up in our words and actions? Pope Francis warned us that such attitudes can be found in well-meaning Christians. He said, “It is important for Christians to show their love by the way they treat family members who are less knowledgeable about the faith, weak or less sure in their convictions. At times the opposite occurs: the supposedly mature believers within the family become unbearably arrogant. Love, on the other hand, is marked by humility; if we are to understand, forgive and serve others from the heart, our pride has to be healed and our humility must increase.”
St. Paul says that “knowledge puffs up,” whereas “love builds up” (1 Cor 8:1). As Pope Francis observed, “Some think that they are important because they are more knowledgeable than others; they want to lord it over them.” Then he offered this insight, “What really makes us important is a love that understands, shows concern, and embraces the weak.”
What are some of the hidden (or not so hidden) ways in which we consider ourselves superior to others? Have we ever allowed pride to encroach on our otherwise sincere desire to witness to the faith. If so, how can we humble ourselves before those that we may have wounded?
