John of the Cross in Book One, Chapter Two of "The Dark Night" speaks of spiritual pride being a hindrance to union with God. A superior attitude, a show of religiosity and a complacency in one's pride and presumption are all reprehensible to God. This is precisely the point Jesus makes in teaching His disciples when commenting on the false self-effacement of the scribes.

Poverty of spirit, on the other hand, is what is exemplified in the action of the widow in Mark's gospel. While others give much, the widow gives little, but it is her all, because for her "One who has God lacks nothing. God alone suffices" (Teresa of Avila). Her action is not indicative of charity only - it is that, in emptying her pockets, she also empties all pride, pleasures, powers and affections. The purity of her heart in seeking God alone is to be emulated.

Later, St. Paul tells Timothy and us how he has poured out his life as a libation for God in this same poverty of spirit where all that matters to him is that he has kept the faith and "run the race to the finish". This emptying of himself, in the way he did it, is what he advocates for Timothy (and us too): "I put this duty to you ... to proclaim the message, welcome or unwelcome ... insist on it." (Tim. 4:1). This spirit of poverty is specially needed when the tendency to stray from the truth because of spiritual pride gather momentum.