Diabolic Pride

Some seek professional advice regarding their confused mental state, and are told that they are suffering from an “inferiority complex.” The truth of the matter is, nobody who is self-willed has an inferiority complex; he has a superiority complex. He is so full of conceit, pride and aggressive assertiveness that his hurt feelings may for the moment appear as inferiority. But he would not feel hurt if he did not have a diabolic pride, or superiority which would treat anyone who does not flatter him as Pontius Pilate treated Christ. Pilate washed his hands of Christ and had Him executed.

Sheen, Fulton (2016-11-08). Finding True Happiness (Kindle Locations 483-487). Beacon Publishing. Kindle Edition. 

We have nothing to fear, not even the devil. But one virtue the devil fears most is humility. He is terrified more by humility than deep faith because humility is the virtue that makes us like Jesus. Jesus asked us to learn from him because, he said, “I am meek and humble of heart.” We should try to learn from Jesus himself rather than relying on books. If we try to learn humility from books we become confused and it seems difficult to imitate the way of humility.

Scolozzi, Angelo; Mother Teresa (2013-10-30). Thirsting for God: Daily Meditations (Kindle Locations 986-990). Franciscan Media. Kindle Edition. 

Ignorance & Knowledge

Pride is the child of ignorance, humility the offspring of knowledge.

Sheen, Fulton (2016-11-08). Finding True Happiness (Kindle Locations 329-330). Beacon Publishing. Kindle Edition. 

Defined - words and meanings are important

Choose wisely...

The problem with the "PRIDE-bow"

It's Pride month. Again and again we see PRIDE with a rainbow. I saw it yesterday on a bank billboard. Here's my problem with it and it's not about sex, who's having it with who - at all.

My problem with this is the banner. The rainbow is the sign of God's covenant to us. What is a covenant? We don't use this word very much in modern language. A covenant is a binding contract and God presented it in this way so that it could NEVER under ANY condition be broken.

When the bow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature—every mortal being that is on earth. Genesis 9:16

To mix this sign of God's unbreakable covenant with us with the word PRIDE, which is our willful rejection of God, is a diabolical mockery.  To see it used over and over again, and to see people rallying around it it so disturbing to me and sad.

Forgive us Father, we know not what we do.

What is truth?

John 18:37 So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king.^* For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

^r38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”^s

Truth has been on my mind a lot lately. In this political season, we have so much “information” being fed to us. News, commercials and political memes try to lead our mind, ideas and vote.

Do they still teach about primary and secondary sources in school? The primary source might be a court document, but it couldn’t be an article about the court case that was a secondary source. (btw: SNOPES is NOT a primary source) I find it’s getting much more difficult with the seemingly infinite volume of information and ideas available now through the Internet to discover the truth of a matter.

My husband told me about a “news” story he read that turned out to be fake the other day. A coworker at lunch related the story of the “hanging chad” 2000 election and with conviction told “facts” that may or may not have been exactly as I remembered them.

I just heard a story, about a woman who confessed gossiping to a priest who gave her the following penance: go home and get a feather pillow, take it to the top of the church bell tower, open it up and throw all of the feathers over. When she was finished she went back to the priest and told him she had done it. He then told her to go to town and gather ALL of the feathers back up and put them back into the pillow. 

Once a story is told, whether truth or fiction, you can’t get it back. It’s out there and some may continue to retell it. Maybe they’ll add some flair to the story for effect or to advance their beliefs among others.

I find myself increasingly disturbed and frustrated as I cannot trust news sources – I find myself looking up to heaven and asking the same question Pontius Pilate asked Jesus “What is truth?” I find that I am becoming cynical, like Pilate, that truth is elusive and subjective.

Jesus said: “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” John 18:37 and “I am the way and the truth^* and the life” John 14:6 and I remember where the truth is: http://www.usccb.org/bible/ I go there every morning and then march through this crazy world full blustery winds of ideas and information. I beg God to help me, to guide me and I thank Him for wanting to.

The Fighting Cocks and the Eagle

TWO GAME COCKS were fiercely fighting for the mastery of the farmyard. One at last put the other to flight. The vanquished Cock skulked away and hid himself in a quiet corner, while the conqueror, flying up to a high wall, flapped his wings and crowed exultingly with all his might. An Eagle sailing through the air pounced upon him and carried him off in his talons. The vanquished Cock immediately came out of his corner, and ruled henceforth with undisputed mastery.

Pride goes before destruction.

Aesop's Fables - Translated by George Fyler Townsend. Aesop's Fables (p. 29). Amazon Digital Services, Inc..