On Rejecting Pride

This morning's reading comes not from the official Lectionary, but from a reading plan from the Bible app. The reading plan is "Daily Journey through Lent with the Early Church" and was made by the Coptic Orthodox Church. I've been pleasantly surprised in the use of quotes from Eastern Orthodox saints from after our schism with the Copts. On that note, the Coptic Church has also made an app called Catena which has the Greek Lectionary as well as the Coptic Lectionary, it has quotes from the saints and commentaries from various Church Fathers (you can choose from a certain set to include or exclude some), and lately they've added Bible plans (or you can make your own). I think the Catena app is an excellent Orthodox alternative than the more Protestant based Bible app. Anyway, on to the post.

16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 25When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. 27Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.(St. Matthew 19:16-30)

The young ruler, or wealthy man, thought that he was doing well by following all of the commandments - and yet, when he was told to sell his things and give his money to the poor he walked away. "For what does it profit a man, if shall gain the whole world and lose his soul?"(St. Mark 8:36) The young man thought that he had everything, but he could not give his possessions away. His pride kept him from realizing that he would lose his soul. His pride caused him to think that all he had done would be enough, and when he heard something that he did not like - something that wounded his pride - he walked away.

We must be sure that we do not give into pride. We must not think that we are better than our brothers and sisters - or more worthy of salvation - because we keep all of the fasts, or are in the church whenever the doors are open, or because we give X amount of money while others give less. If we do think we are better or more worthy then we have been uncharitable and thus broken the fast. The fast isn't just some strict rules about what foods we can't eat, or about going to church more often. The fast is about learning to subdue our passions.

For us converts, we must not be prideful that we have found the True Faith. We might want to bash our former denominations or religions, but often that will turn others away instead of leading them to Christ's Church. 

For those of us who serve in some capacity - as readers, as chanters, in the choir, or at the altar - we must not let that service go to our heads. Not everyone can serve the same way that we do, nor are all called to serve the same way. We are quite literally servants; we are to serve with humility, not judge with pride.

Jesus humbly washed His disciples' feet. The Master turned servant. If we truly are the masters that our pride makes us think that we are shouldn't we be all the more humble and serve without pride?

Pray for me, a sinner.