His sublime self-denial

Through the pride that caused his disobedience, man severed his allegiance to God. The sovereign Lord, coequal with the Father, humbled Himself to the dust, becoming lovingly submissive "even to the death of the Cross."  Man willed to be absolutely self-sufficient, and God, to compensate for His creature's gross insubordination, nation, was "mocked and scourged and spat upon"; He "endured the Cross, despising its shame."

The necessary sequel of man's pride and disobedience was his self-indulgence. Man wills to make himself his only master; he wills to follow the tendencies of nature; he wills to extinguish the light of God in his soul. 

To satisfy for man's yielding to sinful pleasure, the divine Son became "a man of sorrows and acquainted with infirmity ... a leper, and as one struck by God and afflicted." He was "led as a sheep to the slaughter," was "dumb as a lamb before his shearer and ... cut off out of the land of the living. How criminal was man's craven carnality, how perfect Christ's atonement through His sublime self-denial!

John A. Kane. How to Make a Good Confession: A Pocket Guide to Reconciliation With God (Kindle Locations 405-411). Kindle Edition. 

Confession

The fruitful confusion associated with Confession, which often prevents recourse to it, is an inestimable benefit. It overthrows our pride, the cause of all our sins; it deepens our humility, the foundation of all virtue, by making us share in Christ's unspeakable humiliations; it confounds us before one instead of millions.

John A. Kane. How to Make a Good Confession: A Pocket Guide to Reconciliation With God (Kindle Locations 365-367). Kindle Edition. 

Promise to be humble

JOYFUL MYSTERIES II. 

The Visitation 

By now, my little friend, you have no doubt learned to manage on your own. Joyfully keep Joseph and Mary company . . . and you will hear the traditions of the House of David. You will hear about Elizabeth and Zechariah, you will be moved by Joseph’s pure love, and your heart will pound whenever they mention the Child who will be born in Bethlehem. We walk in haste towards the mountains to a town of the tribe of Judah (Lk 1:39). We arrive. It is the house where John the Baptist is to be born. Elizabeth gratefully hails the mother of her Redeemer: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honored with a visit from the mother of my Lord?” (Lk 1:42-43). The unborn Baptist quivers . . . (Lk 1:41). Mary’s humility pours forth in the Magnificat . . . . And you and I, who are proud—who were proud—promise to be humble.

Escriva, Josemaria; Escriva, St. Josemaria. Praying the Holy Rosary with St. Josemaria Escriva: (St. Josemaria Institute) (p. 17). Josemaria Institute. Kindle Edition. 

The deception of vain confidence

 

Today's Meditation “It almost always happens that interior sentiments of pride precede the commission of grievous sins. Peter was not aware of his own weakness. He preferred himself before others; he trusted in himself as though he were incapable of sinning, boasting that no temptation would separate him from Jesus. He would not even believe the assurance of his Divine Master, that he would deny him thrice. Deceived by this vain confidence in his own strength, he neglects to pray, and to have recourse to God; and God, in His justice, permits him to fall, in punishment of his pride. There is nothing more dangerous than to confide in our own strength, and trust to feelings of fervor. We are full of malice, and capable of committing the most enormous crimes, unless God supports us.” —Fr. Ignatius of the Side of Jesus, p. 85-86 The School of Jesus Crucified

An Excerpt From The School of Jesus Crucified

the proud resist God

 

When the mighty fall, the fall is mighty. One minute King Nebuchadnezzar was on the cover of Time magazine. The next, he was banished like a creature and munching on grass. We are left with a lesson: God hates pride.

God resists the proud because the proud resist God. Arrogance stiffens the knee so it will not kneel, hardens the heart so it will not admit to sin. The heart of pride never confesses, never repents, never feels the need for forgiveness. Pride not only prevents reconciliation with God; it prevents reconciliation with people. How many apologies have gone unoffered due to the lack of humility?

Pride comes at a high price, my friend. Don’t pay it. Choose instead to stand on the offer of grace. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5 NKJV).

God Resists the Proud - Max Lucado

FORMED Daily: Radical Humility

A reflection on radical humility:

https://watch.formed.org/suggested-content-for-thursday/videos/daily-reflections-february-10-2022

The Price of Pride

 

The other day I saw some children at play on a large vacant lot where someone had dumped a mound of dirt. They were playing the greatest of kid games: King of the Mountain. The rules are as simple as they are brutal: fight your way to the top, and shove off anyone who threatens to take your spot.

Versions of King of the Mountain are played in every dormitory, classroom, boardroom, and bedroom. And since mountaintop real estate is limited, people tend to get shoved around. Mark it down: if you want to be king, someone is going to suffer. Your arrogance might prompt a broken marriage, an estranged friendship, or a divided office.

Pride comes at a high price. Don’t pay it. Consider the counsel of the apostle Paul: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought” (Romans 12:3).

Max Lucado