But you were captivated by your own beauty
The woman become enamored of herself, and so begins the fall.
As I look at our country, I wonder if this isn’t us.
There are certain things that you should never say of yourself. If others say it about you, that’s fine. But saying it of yourself is merely hubris.
America is the greatest country in the world. Every time I hear it said by an American, I cringe.
Not because I don’t believe, but because of what scripture teaches us about that kind of pride.
The problem is twofold:
First is the tendency to believe you did it yourself. The so-called “self-made man.”
Where is the gratitude to the creator?
Secondly, there is no room for improvement. If you truly believe that you are already the greatest, where do you go? Where is the room for improvement? And most importantly, where is your need for God?
The woman in the first reading was truly beautiful. God had made her and provided her with the best of everything. And it would have been fine if everyone who saw her commented on her beauty. The problem began when she began to focus on her beauty.
Perhaps there is a lesson for us.
