It was a sin of the Pharisees that they loved the glory of men more than the glory of God, and the Lord reproached them with it: How can you believe, who receive glory one from another, and the glory which is from God alone you do not seek? Oh, that we may rise above this earthly worldly propensity, and become dead to this fatal principle which detains thousands, in the heartless mummeries of an heartless world, and checks the aspirations of even pious minds. Why did Saint Paul from a pupil of Gamaliel become a servant of Christ? Because he became dead to this feeling of worldly estimation, and no longer sought to please men, but God, and condescended not to flesh and blood. Why did he withstand Saint Peter to the face, because he was to be blamed? Because, as he says, with me it is a very small thing to be judged by you, or by marts day; he that judgeth me, is the Lord. Whence shall we gain the true nobility of Christian feeling and character, or make progress in the Christian life; but only so far as we are dead to regard to worldly estimation, so that we may live to Christ: only as we renounce meaner springs of action, and live on that principle of a renewed mind, to live the rest of his time in the flesh, not after the desires of man, but according to the will of God. So, do you also reckon that you are dead to sin, but alive unto God, through Christ Jesus our Lord. Live, not as pleasing men, but God who proveth our hearts.
- text taken from Daily Bread - Bring a Few Morning Meditations for the Use of Catholic Christians by Father Richard Waldo Sibthorp