Loving our neighbor can be an unnecessarily difficult thing, if we let our pride cloud our vision. I have and still struggle with this, more than I care to admit. But I do admit it, because I truly believe that when we confess our sins, temptations, and shortcomings in faithful action we allow God’s grace to work in us and hopefully encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ to give each other the same grace.
Pride is the biggest hinderance to loving our neighbors. From my perspective, when satan tries to drive wedges in between us; where the Holy Spirit would otherwise bring us together, it is the sin of pride. It makes us unintentionally see ourselves as better than those around us, even those we love so much.
Specifically pride blinds us to an obvious fact regarding creation. That all of creation is infused with the essence of God. If all things exist because it is Our Father’s will, then all people who exist are here because it is the will of Our Father, and since God takes direct part in the creation of life; even more should we see the goodness of God in all people.
Let us hope and pray that the Holy Spirit will open our eyes, and shape our souls so we can see the goodness of God in our current and future brothers and sisters.
