vanity

Sometimes, in order not to appear out of step, one easily begins not to be consistent with one’s principles. One falls into the temptation of leaning to the side from which approving smiles and handshakes more readily come, or at least in the direction of mediocrity. This is what happened to the Pharisees. Vanity and cowardice were what led them away from God That is what led them to seek another theatre for their struggles, and is what lost them: because once you begin to try pleasing your spectators, the battles you fight are the ones they want to see (St John Chrysostom, o.c., 72). On the contrary, those who truly seek Christ have to accept that their conduct will be unpopular and often criticised, particularly if they live in an environment that is not very Christian.

It's true.. how we are tempted not to follow the custom of not eating meat or chicken on Fridays when our friends are eating at a restaurant that only has meat..

The first thing we have to do is to please Christ