“You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” – Matthew 16: 23b
I once attended a political officer’s training course conducted by one of the major political parties in the Philippines. The presentations dealt mainly with society’s ills, who caused them and what needs to be done to give Juan dela Cruz or Ali Abubakar a better life.
We examined the nature of man. We studied the different social classes in the Philippines. We agreed that, indeed, politics has to be changed to solve the economic crisis in the country. And so on and so forth…
Still, I couldn’t help thinking that, if both Christians and Muslims were just true to the faith they professed, then there wouldn’t be a ruling class or a marginalized sector. If we just gave the person next to us a little bit of consideration and a lot more of understanding, there wouldn’t be a lingering war in Mindanao; there will be lesser hungry and homeless people on the streets.
Yet we glory in our being human and we use our corporeal frailties as excuse for wanton disregard of other people’s needs. Putting their needs first before our wants is something for the saints and angels in heaven, not for us.
If we persist this way, then I will not be surprised if we plunge ourselves into another Dark Age. For after all, what better life will we have if we continue to live as base creatures, disregarding the design He has meant for us – human beings made in His image and likeness? – Lizza V.
Reflection: I am a human being capable of both good and bad. When I choose to be morally responsible, I am realizing the personhood God has designed for me. Am I truly a person?
O Lord of Creation, You made me in Your image and likeness. Help me to recognize myself in the person next to me.
Unedited version of the reflection for the 05 August 2004 readings (Jer 31:31-34; Ps 51:12-19; Mt 16:13-23) of Kerygma, a widely-criculated Catholic devotional magazine.
