As the world becomes more technologically connected and people can easily voice their opinions on the internet and social media outlets with ease, it seems like our world has become more divided. More people are becoming angrier, resentful, and cynical because we keep negatively talking and nitpicking on things that seem to be hot-button issues. We sit behind the screen to be “keyboard warriors” around a few hot topic issues or matters that really cannot be resolved with blind and disinterested exchanges. As a matter of fact, I would not label any internet or social media “conversations” as genuine dialogues or exchanges because no one really cares! People have certainly become more defensive and vocal about things that are easily talked about but really have not done anything to be genuine believers and disciples. I think it is easier to deflect and talk about things that are lofty, different, and out there because real conversion and personal change would be too hard. It is easier to talk about others and blame everyone else, but it is not easy to humbly seek to be disciples of Christ Jesus, who taught us how to truly love, not glorifying or defending ourselves but to bring glory to God in all that we do.
St. James, especially the third chapter (3:16-4:3) of his letter, reminds us that true wisdom and genuine clarity of our message come from the fruits that are born from genuine faith, hope, and love, not simply self-centered righteousness, false piety, or prideful justification of ourselves. Too oftentimes, we tend to do the opposite of what is being asked of us! We would rather seek to justify our positions and make ourselves look better than seek humility and meekness. As a matter of fact, when His own disciples were busy fighting amongst themselves to see who would be the greatest, He took a child and placed it in their midst. (cf. Mark 9:30-37) The good Lord reminded us that He was and will never be into earthly matters. The greatest amongst His disciples should be the ones who are willing to be the last and servant of all. He taught us that we should have the simplicity and purity of heart, like a child who depends on an adult who cares and loves us. We keep things simple and pure, not worrying about what others think of us or want from us, because we are genuine, trusting, and transparent to God, who knows our hearts. Being genuine to ourselves helps us be humble and meek, just like the good Lord Himself!
As a matter of fact, if we look at the lives of our Savior and His followers, the Saints, we can see that they were bold at times, but they were never arrogant. They were full of life and, at times, seemed to have big, attractive personalities, but they never worried about impressing or presenting themselves in a different than they were. I think, too oftentimes, we like to identify meekness and humility as “weak” qualities, but they are real ones, for people who are humble and meek are genuine and do not have to be pretentious.
In a world where many people want to be like God, powerful, in control, and have everything they want, the Lord Jesus Christ became one of us by emptying Himself, living like us in all things but sin. In a world where people want things to be catered to them, He taught us humility by washing His disciples’ feet. In a world where small-minded people are willing to hurt others to rise to power and get what they want, the Savior stooped down to our level to raise us up — not according to human standards — to divine standards. He showed us that humility, compassion, and meekness are essential qualities for God, so those who want to spend eternal life with the Almighty have to possess these important qualities, knowing that they are not worthy in themselves, but they love because of His love.
The Lord Jesus‘ humility is far from being weak and cowardly. On the contrary, only courageous and truthful people are willing to serve genuinely without losing control or power. His meekness is far from being enslaved by others but being able to serve and love freely and completely without petty human calculations, manipulations, or benefits. Without a doubt, our Lord and Savior was not known for being the most powerful, richest, controlling, or prestigious in any sense of the word or by any human or social standards. He was known for His genuine and radical love! His self-giving love and truth freed us from slavery to lesser things and the sins that defined us. Therefore, to be called disciples of Christ is to be like the Master, emulating and learning from Him how to be truly life-giving with genuine humility and meekness.
Without human pettiness and self-centered worries about control, prestige, wealth, or power, we are able to truly be free and be who we are called to be. When we are truly free, we are able to live out our vocation as children of our Heavenly Father, disciples of Christ, and instruments of the Holy Spirit. If we know who we are, being humble, genuine, simple, and transparent to the One who knows and loves us, we are able to seek true wisdom and bear good fruits for the Kingdom instead of building things for ourselves alone.
If we are truly seeking wisdom from on high, we need to avoid being jealous of others and seeking selfish ambition, else we will destroy unity by sowing divisions that are based on disordered desires. When we worry about our little selves, our hearts will grow embittered, and foul thoughts, desires, and practices will creep in because we lose sight of what we are called to do with consistency, perseverance, and humility. We become insincere and treat other people as objects and means to our self-glorifying means when we let our passions, wants, desires, expectations, and demands be the egocentric values of our personal happiness instead of seeking the common and greater good!
Conflicts and divisions will continue to be among us when we choose to justify, defend, or glorify ourselves instead of humbly seeking God‘s will through genuine acts of faith, hope, and love. When we chase our wants, desires, and passions, they will continue to create divisions, wars, jealousy, and resentment among us because we are never satisfied with our unrealistic expectations and demands. We destroy one another in thoughts, words, and actions through pitiful envies and covetous wants, and that is why division and war will continue to exist when we choose to live for ourselves alone.
As Catholics, we are reminded that we are not simply individual believers, only worrying about our own selves and salvation, for we also have a communal identity. We do not spend eternal life by ourselves; therefore, we do not only worry about our own salvation and ignore everyone else because we believe in the communion of saints. We are called to be the Church, for Christ gave His life for each and every one of us, gathering and uniting us together as His Mystical Body. We share this life of faith together as individuals and as the community of believers, knowing who we are personally and communally, helping each other to walk toward Him with mercy and unity of faith.
I truly believe that Christ Jesus does not call the equipped. He simply equips the ones He called. Nonetheless, this takes time because real growth is measured over the course of our journey and continually enriches us with His grace. With humility, we begin to recognize that we never stop growing and learning what it means to follow the Teacher and Master! Discipleship is that very personal and communal journey of continual growth. Where we are today is totally different than where we were in the past as we learn and adapt to life’s challenges. We become in tune, flexible, and creative in letting what He taught us in prayer be enlivened and shared through our words and actions, life and deeds.
Therefore, let us ask God not to receive what we want or desire but to grow in greater love for Him and of our neighbor through genuine acts of loving service, faithful love, and hope-filled gifts of self. When we seek to give to one another what is genuine and pure from the heart, peace will flow because we are able to be gentle and kind to one another. When we are willing to comply and conform ourselves to the will of God, seeking holiness with a life of humility, we will be able to practice mercy and bear good fruits. We have to be cultivators of peace by leading people to the Lord through a life of genuine faith, hope, and love. Perhaps it will take a long time, and some of us will never see the fruits of our labor, but we are called to sow good seeds of faith, cultivate it with love, and allow people to find peace in the Lord.
I hope and pray that we will bring people to His peace, cultivate, and work with one another as collaborators and co-workers in the Lord’s vineyards. In a world of too many divisions, vocal outcries, defensive blames, and empty attacks of many what if, could, should, or would have happened, let us seek, love, and live in His loving will, being simple, pure, peaceable, gentle, merciful, sincere, and persevering in being His disciples. Let us not be worried about being in the fight of whoever wants to be first or the greatest! The Lord knows our hearts, and that is good enough. Hence, let us BE who we are called to be in loving, serving, and praying well so everything we belong to Him, and the good Lord who sees us will bring all things to completion and allow them to bear good fruits in due time.
I Thirst (John 19:28) with Father Khoi 