"God is not one who wills only greatness. God is love, who gives himself first in the Trinity, and then in creation. And to imitate God means going out of oneself; it means giving oneself in love" (Benedict XVI).
Pope Benedict speaks of "greatness" in the way that we conceive of it, our human conceptions. In our pride, we try to imitate God (or take His place) by making ourselves "great."
And so we grasp for power, whereas God wants to make us like Him by enabling us to give ourselves in love, to share in His love.
Here is a larger quotation from Benedict XVI's homily (I'll date it if I can find the date):
Pope Benedict speaks of "greatness" in the way that we conceive of it, our human conceptions. In our pride, we try to imitate God (or take His place) by making ourselves "great."
And so we grasp for power, whereas God wants to make us like Him by enabling us to give ourselves in love, to share in His love.
Here is a larger quotation from Benedict XVI's homily (I'll date it if I can find the date):
