Pride is a very common fault. It is an exaggeration of the self-respect which we should all feel. But this making much of ourselves, and very little of others in comparison with ourselves, is an offense against God, for it involves the more or less complete dethronement of God from the place which He ought to hold in our hearts. Pride is the worship of ourselves, so that he who is proud is himself the object of his own worship; and as he worships and idolizes himself, so he expects others to worship and exalt him also.
It is an offense also against our fellows, for if it is the uppermost feeling in our hearts we shall certainly fail in charity and courtesy towards them. It is an offense also against ourselves, for pride, though it may urge us to do our best for our own glory, will render us incapable of those kindly, and generous, acts of unselfish love which really glorify those who can rise up to them; and that chiefly because they have never sought their own glory in performing them.
Moreover, St. Paul’s words (1 Tim. iii. 6) imply that the devil was lifted up through pride, and so fell into condemnation; and that therefore if we, like him, are lifted up with pride, we, like him, shall fall into condemnation also. Besides this, pride opens the door to other grievous sins, such as a foolish contempt for others, a disregard of their needs or happiness, an absurd habit of boasting, a fretful spirit of grumbling, and so on.
How may I overcome pride if I am inclined to it? By thinking of the beautiful humility of the Son of God. By thinking of the folly of pride, and by considering how little cause we any of us have for thinking anything of ourselves at all.
By observing the ill-effects of pride, which dwarfs our moral nature, and renders the proud continually unhappy when, as is often the case, they do not receive quite so much admiration as they think they deserve.
By prayer for God’s grace that I may not think of myself more highly than I ought to think.
Prayer
Grant me this grace, O God, and be merciful unto me, I beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
From Lent for Busy People © 2017 Fr. Charles H. Nalls
The Cathedral Close 
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