On Pride.
Of the Seven Sins, some say that Pride is the Devil's favorite. If true, this should be no surprise to us. It was, after all, the Devil's own sin.
Yet it is otherwise peculiar among its loathsome brothers. For example, for the rest we can easily discern an opposite. For sloth, we have diligence; for avarice, we have frugality; for lust, we have contentment. Similarly, for each Sin we have an element of choice. The Lord does not condemn anger any more than breathe, sleep, defecation or any other bodily function. It is the indulgence, and consequent perversion, that draws contempt. So it is with Wrath. We draw no ire for being weary, or being ambitious in life and love. It is excess that is punished.
But what of Pride? It has been said, and I think is commonly accepted, that it has the odd characteristic of making some men appear noble, while making others appear foolish. Can the same be said of the others? Although we may take pleasure in the effect of wrath visited upon the deserving, nothing is pleasing in the state itself. Though we may admire success in the accumulation of goods, the bottomless, ravenous desire to have more is disquieting.
So let us examine: What is the opposite of pride? Does it illustrate the perversion of a natural state?
Modesty is the only answer, yet the match sounds imperfect to modern ears. Let us take an example. Imagine on the event of his relatives death a man returns to the home of his youth after a great many years. Imagine similarly that it is in poor repair and so the man chooses to resume his residence at this place, and succeeds in bringing it again to its proper state through much exertion. As he stands before it, his work finished, surely it is jarring to say that he is wrong to take Pride in his accomplishment? Much less that he has violated one of the Seven Deadly Sins? Can he not take Pride, but in a modest way?
He can not. Our confusion lies in whom we are addressing. What we really mean when we say "take Pride, but in a modest way" is to take Pride inwardly while displaying a modest face to our neighbors. But it is not our neighbors that should concern us. For what is this house rebuilt, compared with the leaves of the trees, or the grass of the fields? Mountains that stretch beyond sight both above us and past the horizon? What is it to take Pride in our own pitiful small work when faced everyday with the wonder of God's creation? What is it not to recognize that, indeed, we ourselves are only God's creation, and that all we do is His will? Is that not sinful?
Seen in this light it is plain that our virtue is modesty, and our instinct is satisfaction. Yet so far have we wondered from constantly thinking of ourselves as God's creatures that Pride appears itself to be a virtue and to make men noble. If it is the Devil's favorite, it is for this reason: It encourages man to place himself before God and, by doing so, to replicate the Devil's own fall.
Yet it is otherwise peculiar among its loathsome brothers. For example, for the rest we can easily discern an opposite. For sloth, we have diligence; for avarice, we have frugality; for lust, we have contentment. Similarly, for each Sin we have an element of choice. The Lord does not condemn anger any more than breathe, sleep, defecation or any other bodily function. It is the indulgence, and consequent perversion, that draws contempt. So it is with Wrath. We draw no ire for being weary, or being ambitious in life and love. It is excess that is punished.
But what of Pride? It has been said, and I think is commonly accepted, that it has the odd characteristic of making some men appear noble, while making others appear foolish. Can the same be said of the others? Although we may take pleasure in the effect of wrath visited upon the deserving, nothing is pleasing in the state itself. Though we may admire success in the accumulation of goods, the bottomless, ravenous desire to have more is disquieting.
So let us examine: What is the opposite of pride? Does it illustrate the perversion of a natural state?
Modesty is the only answer, yet the match sounds imperfect to modern ears. Let us take an example. Imagine on the event of his relatives death a man returns to the home of his youth after a great many years. Imagine similarly that it is in poor repair and so the man chooses to resume his residence at this place, and succeeds in bringing it again to its proper state through much exertion. As he stands before it, his work finished, surely it is jarring to say that he is wrong to take Pride in his accomplishment? Much less that he has violated one of the Seven Deadly Sins? Can he not take Pride, but in a modest way?
He can not. Our confusion lies in whom we are addressing. What we really mean when we say "take Pride, but in a modest way" is to take Pride inwardly while displaying a modest face to our neighbors. But it is not our neighbors that should concern us. For what is this house rebuilt, compared with the leaves of the trees, or the grass of the fields? Mountains that stretch beyond sight both above us and past the horizon? What is it to take Pride in our own pitiful small work when faced everyday with the wonder of God's creation? What is it not to recognize that, indeed, we ourselves are only God's creation, and that all we do is His will? Is that not sinful?
Seen in this light it is plain that our virtue is modesty, and our instinct is satisfaction. Yet so far have we wondered from constantly thinking of ourselves as God's creatures that Pride appears itself to be a virtue and to make men noble. If it is the Devil's favorite, it is for this reason: It encourages man to place himself before God and, by doing so, to replicate the Devil's own fall.
posted by cmb | 6:41 PM
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