Whoever Wants to Save Their Life…

Back in the days when people traveled by horse and buggy, there was a bishop who had two horses named Pride and Prejudice. People often told him that they thought it was awful that a bishop should be drawn hither and thither by pride and prejudice. But he would reassure them that actually, it was a wonderful thing that a Bishop would have Pride and Prejudice under control.

That would be a wonderful thing for any of us! Think about how pride can damage a relationship: when it always has to be my way or no way; when I won’t give an inch, or even listen to another point of view. Or even on the other side of this, when I am too proud to ask for help. And then think about how prejudice can harm our very souls.

Jesus once said in Matthew 16, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

Jesus was getting at this very thing. If we cling too tightly to ego, to self, and our own wants at the expense of others, life becomes small and skewed. On the other hand, when we get beyond ourselves, when we’re able to let go of our pride, our prejudice, and ego, there is a deep and abundant life awaiting.

Let us pray: God of hope, we all struggle with pride and prejudice at one level or another. We need your help. And so we ask you to show us today any areas in our lives that we need to surrender to you. Help us let go of anything that hurts our relationships with others or with you. We ask in Jesus’s name. Amen.