Pride
Before you begin: Please read the Introduction — How to Practice the Gospel Exercises
Reflection on (Luke 5:30–32; Luke 6:40; John 5:30)
Prayer
Holy Spirit, teach me to see my heart truthfully.
Free me from the blindness of pride and grant me humility that opens me to Your grace.
Give me the ability to follow Christ and not seek my own glory, but Your will.
Amen.
Reflection
Pride is deceptive. It often does not come loudly, but quietly—hidden behind the semblance of righteousness, wisdom, or spirituality. That is why pride was one of the most common problems Jesus exposed, not in public sinners, but in those who thought they were righteous.
Blindness to one’s own need
The Pharisees grumbled: “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” (Lk 5:30). In their eyes, Jesus and His disciples were unclean because they associated with the “wrong” people. But Jesus answers: “Those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick.” Not because the Pharisees were without sin, but because they thought they had none. This is the heart of pride: the conviction that I do not need God’s grace.
The humility of a disciple
In Lk 6:40 Jesus says: “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone, when fully trained, will be like his teacher.” Humility begins with admitting that we still need to learn. Pride places itself above others, but a true disciple knows that the goal is not to elevate oneself, but to become like Christ.
Christ’s example of humility
In Jn 5:30 Jesus says: “I can do nothing on my own… I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.” This statement is striking: the Son of God, who had every right to act on His own, chose to live in obedience. This is the greatest paradox of the Gospel—He who is greatest became the most humble.
Pride is not just one sin among others—it is a root that closes the heart to grace. Whoever relies on self no longer senses their need for God. Humility, on the other hand, is not weakness—it is truth about ourselves. It is the freedom to admit that we need the Physician, the Teacher, and the Savior. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (Jas 4:6).
Discernment
Let us reflect: Where in my life does pride show itself? Perhaps subtly, hidden behind piety or wisdom? Are there situations where I compare myself with others and consider myself better? Or moments when I rely more on my abilities than on God?
Let us recall times when we rejected correction or advice simply because it touched our ego. How often do we resist admitting our weakness, even though we know the truth would set us free?
In prayer, let us hand over to Jesus our hearts wounded by pride. Let us ask Him to teach us His way of humility, so that we do not seek our own will, but the will of the Father.
Resolution
In the coming week, I will notice situations where pride speaks within me—in my words, thoughts, or attitudes. In those moments I will remind myself: “I can do nothing on my own.” Each day I will choose to practice small acts of humility—to admit weakness, to thank others for their help, and to surrender my will to God.
Prayer
Our Father…