Issues
The story is told about an old man who lay dying. Smelling newly baked cookies at his bedside, he tried to reach out for one. Whereupon his wife slapped his hand and sternly told him: “No. You are not allowed to get one. Those cookies are reserved for our guests at your wake and funeral.”
In today’s Gospel (Mt. 23:1-12), Jesus warns the crowd about the hypocrisy of the Scribes and the Pharisees who “tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them.” Jesus did not spare words to castigate those who do not practice what they preach, leaders who are there just for the money, and for the show. Let us not forget that power and authority are given to us not for ourselves but for the people. Let us focus, not on our functions, but on persons. More than being a somebody, let us be a someone to people around us.
There are people who are sticklers for rules and who have high standards. The problem comes when these people become unbending with their rules and impose their standards on other people. They mean well, but the problem with so-called “well-meaning” people is that they can become mean, proud, and uncaring of other people’s thoughts and feelings, and comport themselves thus in God’s name.
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Copy that. Amen! Amen! As we say it in Tagalog: “Ang taong mayabang, tinatamaan; ang taong mapagkumbaba, pinagpapala.”
Let us continue to pray for the grace to be humble and honest. Humility is the key and honesty is the road to God’s heart. We all still have much to learn, we all still have much listening to do, and we all still have many miles to go on our journey to God’s heart.
A person on constant “selfie” mode can hardly listen to God and people. Let us continue to pray sincerely for the grace to be less proud and selfish.
Are you a proud and selfish person? Maybe it is because you have unresolved issues in your life. The first issue is about one’s beginnings—i.e., whether you were born rich or poor, where you came from, who you were in the past, whether you were a self-made person, etc.
The second issue is about entitlement—i.e., that you deserve to be treated better because of age, position, money, or power, or other conditions in your life.
The third issue is about authority—i.e., you tend to control and impose on others, you cannot accept having to obey others in authority, or you tend to fight anyone who is in authority, etc.
The fourth issue is about trust—i.e., you find it difficult to be trusting, everyone is suspect, you are not a trustworthy person, or you are unable to operate on or build trusting relationships, etc.
The fifth issue is about self-worth—i.e., you think highly of yourself and look down on others, or you base your value as a person on your wealth, talents, and achievements, etc.
These issues that start from our childhood have to be raised, resolved and clarified; otherwise, they will continue to burden us and make us selfish and proud. Honesty and humility can help us resolve our issues and understand ourselves and other people better.
Perhaps the word of God can help us see the light. Regarding our beginnings, let us remember: “Before you were born, I knew you” (Isaiah 44, 24). Regarding entitlement: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, naked I will go back” (Job 1:21). Regarding authority: “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46, 10). Regarding trust: “Trust in me, I will help you” (Psalm 62:8). And regarding self-worth: “God so loved the world He sent His only begotten Son” (John 3, 16).
Power, money, and authority are good, but can be mishandled by those who have unresolved issues in their lives, which make them angry, selfish and proud. It is in prayer, when we listen to God (and not to ourselves), that we really know who we are, and who God is.
A moment with the Lord:
Lord, help us to resolve our inner issues which make us angry, selfish and proud in the world outside. Amen.
