The Chasam Sofer draws on a possuk in last week's parsha which teaches us not to measure our greatness in accordance to how much we accomplish. He cautions us that Hashem only measures success according to whether a person fulfills his mission, given the tools and circumstances he was granted. Thus, one should never say 'I cannot conquer my evil inclination for I was not granted the resources to do so. I do not have the means to engage in Torah learning or mitzvah performance for I am a simple man'. This analysis is the antithesis of how Hashem views His creations.
Hashem does not look at a man who is wiser or wealthier as a better person. On the contrary, one who does Hashem's will in whichever way possible, regardless of his circumstances, is beloved by Hashem. The only way to conquer our animalistic instincts is to understand that we have been granted the necessary tools to do so. One must also internalize the belief that Hashem greatly values our efforts to fulfill our personal goals. He does not want us to try to reach the goals of others since that is not the purpose for which we were created.
In Parshas Bereishis it says that Hashem created שני את (טז א) המאורות הגדולים, the two great luminaries. However, later in the possuk the sun is referred to as the הגדול מאור, whereas the moon is referred to as the הקטן מאור, the small luminary. Rashi famously explains that initially the sun and moon were created equal, however the moon complained that 'two kings cannot wear the same crown'. Because of his complaint Hashem diminished the light of the moon, ultimately turning the sun into the greatest light.
The Chasam Sofer has great difficulty understanding this explanation. He says that it is clear that the sun and the moon were never meant to be equal. Hashem created day and night, the former was meant to be light and the latter dark. Furthermore, there are various aspects of nature that are affected by the sun and others that work according to the moon, which has a different strength to the sun. He also quotes a possuk that states that והיה אור הלבנה כאור החמה, ואור החמה יהיה שבעתים (ישעיה ל כו) when Moshiach will come, the light of the moon will be like that of the sun and the sun will be seven times as strong as it is now. All this proves that the sun and moon were never meant to be of equal strength, even before the moon complained.
Furthermore, the possuk says that the moon will be restored to its earlier strength at the coming of Moshiach because the Yidden will do teshuvah. Yet, we know that the moon's light was diminished due to its own complaint; what then is the connection between the Yidden's teshuvah and the moon's restoration?
Fulfilling our Individual Mission
The Chasam Sofer offers a fascinating explanation. He asserts that the moon was created the same size as it is now, and with the ability to shine the same amount of light as it currently does, for this was what the world needed. The only difference between the moon before it complained and after that, is that Hashem took away the moon's independent ability to shine. The moon used to have its own light, however, after its complaint it was only able to reflect the sun's light. Even though its light was not initially the same as the light of the sun, Hashem still referred to both of them equally as שני המאורות הגדולים. That is because size and ability are completely not relevant to Hashem. A creation is only גדול great if it does the will of Hashem. Therefore, both the sun and moon were equally great, for they were both fulfilling the purpose for which they were created!
The moon actually understood this and knew that its light is less than that of the sun and that its purpose is different to that of the sun. The moon did not object to this reality. It only objected to being referred to on equal footing to the sun; שתי מאורות הגדולים, when in reality it knew itself to be smaller. But Hashem answered that its smaller size and lesser ability to shine does not in any way mitigate its greatness! And if the Torah will refer to it as the הקטן מאור due to its smaller size and lesser light, then it will cause people to stumble and think that their abilities actually have an impact on their greatness.
This fact is far removed from reality. The only true measure of greatness is whether a person is fulfilling his purpose in this world. Therefore, Hashem ultimately took away the moon's ability to give light, in order to not allow man to stumble and think that size, quantity, or accomplishments are the factors that measure greatness!
The Chasam Sofer explains that a little creature such as an ant, and a large animal such as an elephant, have equal value in Hashem's eyes. They are both simply fulfilling their roles in creation. אל יתהלל הגיבור (ירמיהו ט כב) בגבורתו אל יתהלל עשיר בעשרו a wealthy man should not pride himself with his wealth or a strong man with his strength, כי אם בזאת המתהלל השכל וידע אותי (ט כג) one should only pride himself if he uses his gifts as a means to recognize the greatness of Hashem. For that is the only definition of greatness. Overcoming one's evil inclination and fulfilling Hashem's will in the place and with the circumstances He has granted us.