Saturday, June 27, 2009

When I become too high minded...



And all holier than thou...
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"I find there are seven kinds of harm that can be incurred through vain joy in one's good works and customs, and because this harm is spiritual it is particularly ruinous.
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The first is vanity, pride, vainglory, and presumption. For one is unable to rejoice over his works without esteeming them. This gives rise to boasting, the critical spirit, etc., as is said of the pharisee in the Gospel: he prayed and sought friendship with God by boasting of his fasting and performance of other good works. [Lk. 18: 11-12]
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The second is usually linked with the first. It is that a person judges others - comparatively speaking - to be evil and imperfect, supposing that their deeds and works are not as good as his own."
- Ascent Bk III Ch 28
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Art: Coptic icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, whose feast it is today.

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