Moving from the Ego’s “Us vs. Them” to the Radical Humility of the Father’s Eyes.

The Subtle Poison of Religious Pride

When we decide to give our lives to Christ, we cross a threshold. It feels like a victory—and in many ways, it is. But right behind that victory lurks a subtle, spiritual poison. We begin to look at the world through a lens of “us” and “them.” We start to wonder: Am I better than they are?

The short, jarring answer is: No.

In the economy of Grace, there is no “better.” There is only the called, the seeking, and the found.

The Myth of the Self-Made Saint

We like to think our “Yes” to God is a personal achievement. We treat it like a trophy we earned. But Catholic Exegesis and the history of the Saints tell a different story.

It is God who provides the environment. It is God who provides the attitude. It is God who guides the choice. You didn’t invent the air you breathe; you simply finally decided to stop holding your breath. Even the initiative to seek Him is a grace He provided.

Key Insight: All that is good in us comes from Him. All that is evil in us is simply that which has not yet died.

Beyond the “Sheep and Goats” Mentality

Our brains are wired to categorize, to judge, and to rank. But to live a life of grace is to override those biological shortcuts and adopt The Father’s Eyes.

When we look at someone “trapped by sin” or “downtrodden,” we are seeing only the surface. We have no idea what is happening in the deep recesses of their heart. Consider these three truths:

1. The Invisible Battle: That person may be fighting a psychological or spiritual slavery you cannot imagine.
2. The Proximity of Grace: The “worse off” a person appears by our standards, the closer they may be to a total, explosive conversion.
3. The Elder Brother Trap: Like the brother of the Prodigal Son, we can be “right” on the outside while being miles away from the Father’s heart on the inside.

Suffering as Sacred Alchemy

Transformation isn’t just about feeling good; it’s about dying to the self. St. John Paul II once wrote that there is a specific kind of suffering that “burns and consumes evil with the flame of love.” When we see someone struggling, we aren’t called to point a finger. We are called to step into the fire with them.

Because we have been blessed with grace, we don’t have a higher status—we have a higher responsibility. We are called to suffer personally to help others overcome their shadows. This is the “Hero’s Journey” of the soul: descending into the mess of humanity to bring back the light.

The Mirror: Fixing Our Eyes

If you find yourself comparing your holiness to your neighbor’s, you have taken your eyes off the Prize.

We still have enough of ourselves that needs redemption to keep us busy for several lifetimes. The goal isn’t to be “better” than the person in the pew next to you; it is to be more “dead to yourself” than you were yesterday.

The Call to Action: Today, look at the person you are most tempted to judge. Instead of a “goat,” see a “lost sheep.” Instead of a “sinner,” see a “prodigal.” Ask for the grace to see them not as they are, but as the Father sees them.

Developed with assistance from Gemini AI