On Pride - A Personal Sermon
From LanceaSanctum
Originally given in late 2006, by Bishop J.W.Ghoren of Delaware.
A passage from the Old Testament, the book Wisdom of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Chapter 3: Verses 17-28.
My brethren, this passage from scripture deals with one of the most insidious of sins - Pride - in describing how humility is the better path. Later in the book of his Wisdom, wise old Sirach declares that "pride is the reservoir of sin, a source which runs over with vice; Because of it God sends unheard-of afflictions and brings men to utter ruin."
Would, brothers and sisters, that I had held this lesson in my heart some time ago. You see, at the beginning of the month of September 2006, I visited the Vicar of New York, along with our Prince, Mme Bayushi, and her Harpy, Mr. Flannery. While we were there, I was very pleased to aid Vicar Absimilard in preseting a dignified alternative to the base cavorting of a Crone gathering held that night. I was not pleased, however, to hear through our Harpy that the Sherriff of New York was dissapointed with the level of support he'd received from the Sanctified in battling an ongoing problem with Belial's Brood. A raid was to be held in the coming nights, and I saw my mission.
I offered my claws in the battle, and when I returned to Delaware before going back to NYC, I implored aid from my fellows among the broader Sanctified. At first, it seemed several would answer the call. Then His Eminence, Marcus Cardinal Dirae of Boston, stepped into the conversation, and put an end to what support I'd garnered by demanding to know whether Crusade had been called, and with what authority I asked for help in NYC.
I realize now that I had no such authority, but that my pride led me to believe I could lead the Sanctified to glory in NYC. When shut down, my pride only led me to more egregious sin - calling out as cowards His Eminence and a prominent order within the church. I continued to debate, saying that I claimed no title nor duty to New York, yet in effect saying also that I was leading the Sanctified into the battle. I appealed to my brothers' consciences, and in doing so slipped yet further into my pride, confident that I knew their motivations.
Finally, after I'd given up rallying aid for the battle, I left for it - and arrived to late to fight in it. I waited out the battle at the retreat point I'd been told of beforehand. Finally, I learned the outcome - it was a rout! Praise the Lord, ten Brood were taken captive and the remainder destroyed. Truly, the Lord God was on the side of the righteous that night.
Only later would I find out that H.E. Dirae did authorize one figher to go - and that said fighter kept NYC's Sherriff from Final Death. At that discovery, my pride burst like a soap bubble, for finally could I see the higher purposes to H.E. Dirae's words. I do not regret my enjoinders for aid in that battle - for without them, surely it would have gone worse - but do certainly regret the rash and prideful words with which I assaulted my Brothers who would not fight.
Now, I have bridges to rebuild. One in particular, to very respected Brother I've only recently met, may lie in ruins. Truly, as Sirach said, "The traces of the proud God sweeps away and effaces the memory of them from the earth." I intend to live out my Requiem - to one day gaze upon the face of Christ when the Day of Judgment arrives. Therefore, I must be vigilant, lest my pride consume me, and the whole be scattered to the wind.
We all must be vigilant agaist pride, Brothers and Sisters. I have offered my own failing in it, but it is a temptation that waits for all of us. All too easy, it is, for we whom God has placed above Men to revel in our own power, influence or reputation above Him. Yet it is Him we must revel in. And He is glorified, as tonight's reading tells us, by Humility.
So let us not be misled by our own opinions. Let us not meddle in that which is not our concern. Let us not seek out battles beyond our strength. And let us never use violence or agression without dire need.
As the Scripture has said, the prideful man is the offshoot of an evil plant - and I am such an offshoot. For this, have I been Damned to the Holy Purpose of the Kindred.
Yet whether our evil stems from pride, some other vice, or sheer weakness of faith, In accepting the Damnation that accrues to us from it, we become more than evil or sinners. We can learn to use our vices to better affect our Purpose. We can become, through on-going spirtual hard work, Sanctified.
As Psalm 37 reminds us, "those whose steps are guided by the Lord, whose Way God approves, may stumble, but they will never fall, for the Lord holds their hand."
Thank you, my brethren. Good night.
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