I have come to believe—after over twenty years working for parishes—that the devil’s last stand is pride. If he can’t entangle a person in lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, or envy, pride is his last stand. And it’s a killer.

It is as if the devil realizes none of the first six are working anymore on an individual, so he sits back and waits for the targeted soul to become comfortable and content. He knows that over time, our hearts grow into conformity with the law and we don’t have to fight quite as hard to resist certain sin as we once did. It is then that he strikes.

“Look at how great you are doing!” he whispers. “You did it!” he confirms. “Anyone can do it,” he suggests. “Why is everyone else still making those mistakes?” he questions. “Why isn’t everyone as holy as you?” he demands.

And that is when he has us. He has convinced us of our own impending canonization, perfect judgement, and that God needs us, instead of the other way around.

In this weekend’s Gospel, two people were praying. One was a Pharisee. Look them up in the dictionary. They were distinguished by strict observance of the traditional and written law. In our parish, the equivalent might be someone who attends daily Mass, gives generously to the collection, and volunteers in several ministries.

Hear this plainly: daily Mass attendance is a wonderful thing for one’s faith life. Giving generously makes it possible for parish ministries to continue. And volunteerism is faith in action. Pride is the only sin that can get to a person like this.

“O God,” begins the prayer of the Pharisee, “I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity - greedy, dishonest, adulterous, or even like the tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.”

The other was the tax collector. The parish equivalent would be a business person who makes a substantial income through corrupt and dishonest practices.

“O God,” he prays in the reading, “be merciful to me a sinner.”

Jesus then makes it clear: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Questions? Comments? Email David at dlins@oloj.org.

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