We're replacing our church's outdated phone system these days, an event which reminds me of a story. The major was promoted to colonel and received a fancy new office. As he entered it for the first time, sitting in the nice new chair, a knock came at the door. He said, "Come in," then quickly picked up the telephone as a corporal walked in.

"Just a minute," the colonel said to the corporal. "I have to finish this telephone call." Then the colonel began speaking into the mouthpiece: "Sorry about the interruption, General. Yes, sir, I will take care of that. Yes, I'll call the President after I finish talking with you, General."

The colonel ceremoniously put the telephone down, turned to the corporal, and said, "What can I do for you?" The corporal replied, "Well, colonel, I just came in to connect your telephone."

Pride is the genesis of all our sins. "You will be as God" is the first temptation in human history (Genesis 3:5), and the heart of all the others. We build our Towers of Babel that we might "make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth" (Genesis 11:4).

But the opposite results. Pride turned Adam and Eve against each other. Cain felt himself inferior to his brother, so he murdered him. Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery for the same reason. The religious and secular authorities crucified Jesus out of jealousy for their own power and status. Whenever we try to supplant God, we end up scattering ourselves over the earth.

What was your last problem with someone? Was pride in the middle of it? In what way do you feel isolated, alienated, "scattered" from those you care about? Mother Teresa said the greatest epidemic of our Western culture is not AIDS or leprosy but loneliness. Today we'll find its cure.