The greatest of the kingdom

We are all inclined to grab the first places. We seem to be always in competition. We want to get ahead of all the rest, to be the "star in a million," to be enthroned with a crown of laurels on a pedestal, to reign like kings and queens royale and be admired, adored. Then we close our eyes blind to everybody around us, seeing only ourselves in vainglory, illusioning how outstanding and towering above all the rest we are.

One would think we were made by God to glory in ourselves. If the world is so muddled up today it is because men and women would be gods and goddess. We were made for glory of God. But we were not made by the Creator for the deification of self. Our first parents were free and innocent knowing nothing of evil.

They were happy in paradise and happy in themselves an din the natural wealth of paradise. Of every fruit they could eat, except the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. If they do , they would surely die. But the devil in the form of a serpent tempted them: "You surely will not die. No, god knows that the moment you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods who know…" (Gen. 3:4-5).

Pride which led our first parents to reject the Creator’s will is the capital sin. It contradicts the purpose of our freedom with which God has gifted us which is to love the highest value of all, the personal god; that freedom which, like our first parents, we use against God in His Presence yet because of His creative omnipotence and universal dominion. The fall of man is the first sin of pride from which all other evil in our world is born —envy, anger, hatred, murder, greed, and any use of our freedom against the will of God. The consequence is a world in chaos, life muddled up, causing all kinds of pain, suffering sickness and inevitable death.

There is need of a disposition which makes us conscious of our radical distance from God, who is perfect being all Goodness, all Just, all Love. Our redemption is essentially the transformation and elevation therein of the little and the weak into great of the Kingdom of God. The first sin was an attempt to usurp the rights of God over His creatures by disobedience of His holy Will and only God can atone by His infinite love, the radical offense. Our radical consciousness should make us humbly gratefully and courageously take up the Cross to follow Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God the Father, sent to us and who humbled Himself taking on our human nature, incarnated, suffered and died obedient to His Father even to death on the Cross.

The essential Gospel teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ is expressed in His owned words: "Learn of Me for I am meek and humble of heart" (Mt. 11-128). The first lesson He taught to his followers was how to be great by not aspiring to the highest position. He told them when they were quarreling who would sit at His right in the Kingdom: Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; however wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for man" (Mt 20-25-28). At the same time, he hurled His denunciation of the Scribes and the Pharisees: "…do not follow their example, for they preach but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders. All their tassels. They love first places at banquets, and seats of honor in synagogues…" (Mt. 23:3-6).

Who, then are the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? Jesus answers this question: "Whoever humbles himself like child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven" (Mt. 18:4). Our greatest model of the humble is no other than our Blessed Mother. From t he moment she was offered the Motherhood of God, she never failed to give to God her Christian "yes." The humblest Christian that ever lived this earth is Mary, who herself is our model of radical Christianity in humble love: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my Spirit rejoices in God, my Savior. For He was looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness: behold from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me and holy is His Name" (Lk 1:46-49).

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Luke 14:1, 7-17.

The Jesuit Vocation Promotion Team invites male college students and young professionals to a Vocation Seminar, intended for those who are considering the priesthood or brotherhood in the religious life. It will be held on September 12, 2004, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Conference Room B, St. Paul College-Manila, Pedro Gil Street, Manila. For more details, please contact the Jesuit Vocation Promotions Office, Loyola House of Studies at Telephone number 4266101 (local 3408) or e-mail at vocprom@vasia-com.