Acts 20:28-38 / John 17:11-19
Pride is the weakness in us that we have to be always on guard against.
It is always lurking within us and the evil one is always looking for opportunities to ignite and explode the pride in us.
One of the ways that pride will manifest in us is when we begin to think that others are not that effective and impressive, or that we can do better than them.
Yes, pride can make us become bigger than ourselves and we may even try to induce others to agree with us and think like us and eventually to follow us.
This is the underlying motive in schisms and the cause for divisions.
This is what St. Paul warned about in the 1st reading. Pride can even make sheep turn into wolves.
Indeed, we have to be guard against the pride within us that can easily manifest and explode with destructive consequences.
In the gospel, Jesus even prayed that God will keep us true and faithful to Him so that we can truly become like Jesus who came to serve and not to be served and to give His life as a ransom to save us.
The opposite of pride is humility. Humility is expressed love and compassion and support for the weak and lowly.
Jesus humbled Himself even to accepting death on the cross. We must pray for the virtue of humility because that is the weapon that will overcome the pride in us.