“The proud person’s horizon is terribly limited: it stops in himself. He can see no further than himself, his qualities, his virtues, his talent. His is a godless horizon. Even other people have no place on this cramped horizon. There is no room for them.” — Salvador Canals
Our qualities, our virtues, and our talents aren’t bad things. They are good things.
It’s when we only see those that our pride, even in our good things, can lead to a godless wasteland.
I think in the spiritual life we can so often take on this individualism. It likely comes from our American culture.
But we focus on what I am doing. What devotions I do. What sacrifices I offer. What prayers I say.
And those, of course, are good things.
But how do we see beyond ourselves?
How do we look outward from a place of humility—to others, to the people in our lives, to God Himself?
The spiritual life isn’t meant to turn us inward. It’s meant to turn us outward.
Toward God. Toward others.
Let us pray.
Lord, don’t let our horizon stop at ourselves. Turn us outward—toward You and toward others. Give us the humility to see beyond ourselves. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Keep fighting the good fight. Our Lady of Victory, pray for us.
