I pride myself on being a self-made man. I have taught myself many things. When I was about 12 years-old I taught myself how to ride a unicycle. After a lot of practice and a lot of failures I was able to leave the balancing poles behind and set out to ride all over the neighborhood.
I received a great foundation in the Catholic faith under the careful eyes of Sister Dorothy and Sister Bernadette. Yet, when I came back to the faith after an extended leave of 10 years I taught myself by using the Catechism and the Bible and by studying various books etc.
I don’t care much for formal classes unless it is something that I am really interested in. I like to do things myself and teach myself. I call it independence but it is really a thinly veiled pride. Many would say that it is a great ability and gift to be able to teach oneself but I see it as my greatest fault. I am too proud to say, “teach me.” To say those words in my mind is the same as saying, “I don’t know something, I am weak, I need help.” Pride, pride, pride.
In today’s Gospel I am encouraged to put aside my pride. The apostles give me the courage to say, “teach me.” Here are men who have been following Jesus for a while. They have witnessed His miracles, heard His teachings, and watched Him pray. A pride filled person would assume to know and be able to imitate all that the master has done by now. In fact, we just read that apostles healed and cast out demons. Yet, now they are asking simply to know how to pray.For me, this is humility and I hope to imitate it by asking the Master to teach me everything.
James M. Hahn, Author 