“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave……” (Philippians 2:5-7)

Yesterday, we explored several practical ways to cultivate the habit of listening and to dismantle the walls built by our self-centeredness. Today, we need to go even deeper into our hearts.

If we honestly examine ourselves, we will discover that

pride not only blocks our ears from listening, but also poisons our eyes. It distorts the way we see the people and situations around us. Two of the most toxic symptoms of pride are “envy” and “being judgmental”.

Envy makes us perceive another person’s success or blessings as a threat to our own worth. Judging others, on the other hand, becomes a method of pride—by lowering others in our minds, we make ourselves feel superior.

Imagine for a moment the state of your soul when you are gripped by envy or busy judging someone. Your mind is crowded with comparisons, complaints, and defensive thoughts. The internal noise is absolutely deafening. In such a state, how could you possibly hear the gentle and quiet voice of God? You simply cannot. As the Scripture reminds us, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5) If we wish to tune our hearts to receive God’s voice, we must first remove the noisy interference caused by our inflated ego.

To do this, Paul the Apostle tells us: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,” for Christ even “emptied himself” for our sake.

But the question remains: how can we empty ourselves of the deeply rooted tendencies of envy and judging others?

Within the Catholic spiritual tradition, there is a profound, and even shocking prayer called the “Litany of Humility”. For our souls, it is like undergoing a radical spiritual surgery. Let us walk through the three movements of this prayer together.

The first movement addresses our “desires”. In the prayer we say: “From the desire of being esteemed, loved, honored, praised, and preferred to others… Deliver me, Jesus.”

These petitions target the very root of our envy. When we insist on being the center of attention or the “best” person in the room, another person’s success naturally feels threatening. But when we ask Jesus to deliver us from these desires, we step off the exhausting treadmill of constant comparison.

The second movement addresses our “fears”. We pray: “From the fear of being humiliated, despised, forgotten, ridiculed, and wronged… Deliver me, Jesus.”

Why are we so quick to judge others? Often it is because we are afraid that our own weaknesses will be exposed. By judging others, we try to deflect attention from our own insecurities. If we no longer fear appearing imperfect, we will no longer feel the need to judge those around us.

The third and final movement is the most radical, even overturning our usual way of thinking—but it is also the ultimate cure for pride. We do not simply ask the Lord to remove our wrong desires; we actively pray for the success of others. We pray: That others may be loved more than I; That others may be chosen and I set aside; That others may be preferred to me in everything… Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

Take a deep breath and let those words sink into your heart. “That others may be chosen and I set aside.” Can you pray that for others—even for someone you dislike?

When we are able to pray the “Litany of Humility” sincerely, something miraculous happens within us. The frantic urge to defend ourselves, promote ourselves, and judge others begins to fade. The deafening noise of our inflated ego falls completely silent.

And in that beautiful, empty, humble stillness, our ears are finally opened. At last we are ready to listen. We are ready to hear the voice of the God who emptied Himself and became man for our sake.

Let us reflect once again on what Paul the Apostle said to us:

“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave……” (Philippians 2:5-7)

Reflection

When I see someone succeed or receive praise, what is my immediate internal reaction? Do I feel joy, or a sharp sting of envy?

Who is the person I judge or criticize most often in my mind? Could my judgment of them actually be a mask for my own pride or insecurity?

Can I honestly pray, “That others may be chosen and I set aside”? What would need to change in me for me to genuinely desire this grace?

Today’s Prayer

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear my prayer.

My soul is often overwhelmed by my own pride, envy, and the constant urge to judge others. I confess that I cling tightly to the desire for praise and try to avoid the fear of being forgotten.

Lord, today I ask You to perform a radical spiritual surgery within my heart. Deliver me from the endless habit of comparing myself with others.

Grant me the profound grace to sincerely desire that others may increase while I decrease. Teach me to empty myself as You did, so that in the quiet peace of a humble heart I may finally hear Your loving voice clearly.

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