“Our first reading from the Prophet Ezekiel gives us a strong warning about pride.

The ruler of Tyre had become powerful, successful, and wealthy. And slowly, something dangerous happened in his heart. He began to think too highly of himself. God says to him: “Because you are haughty of heart, you say, ‘A god am I!’ … And yet you are a man, and not a god” (Ez 28:2).

There is a simple but important lesson here: Never allow your blessings to make you forget the One who blessed you.

Sometimes success can be more spiritually dangerous than failure. When we fail, we easily turn to God: “Lord, help me.” But when everything is going well—when we have money, influence, intelligence, accomplishments, or authority—we can begin to think, I did this. I earned this. I deserve this. I don’t need anyone.

And without realizing it, even if we never say, “I am God,” we begin to live as though we were.

This temptation can happen to anyone. It can happen to politicians and businesspeople. It can happen to professionals. It can even happen to bishops and priests. The more people call us by our titles, listen to us, respect us, and serve us, the greater the danger that we begin to believe that we are more important than we really are.

Ezekiel reminds us: “You are a man, and not a god.” Perhaps we need to hear those words from time to time.

You are gifted—but you are not God.

You may be successful—but you are not God.

You may have authority—but you are not God.

You may have money—but you are not God.

You may be admired by many—but you are not God.

Everything we have can disappear. Positions end. Money can be lost. Beauty fades. Strength weakens. Even our titles will one day belong to someone else.

What remains is who we are before God.

That is why humility is not thinking poorly of ourselves. Humility is simply remembering the truth about ourselves: that everything is grace. Whatever intelligence we have, whatever opportunities we received, whatever success we achieved, whatever good we have accomplished—all these became possible because God first gave us life, gifts, people, opportunities, and strength.

So today, perhaps the Lord is inviting us to remember who we are.

When God gives you success, be grateful.

When God gives you authority, use it to serve.

When God gives you wealth, use it to help.

When people praise you, remain humble.

Because the higher God allows us to rise, the more firmly our knees should bend before Him. Never allow your blessings to make you forget the One who blessed you.”