This is one of my favorite sayings of Jesus. It is so revealing to me personally. Over the years, my life, and I'm guessing the lives of many, seem to be controlled - to some extent - by our need for approval and acceptance. It's not a bad thing in itself, it's a natural need - but it often leads to some objectively disordered behavior, and at times, accounts for the double lives some people lead. (Not to mention social media addiction.) Which gives rise to so many lies, deceptions, affectations, pretentiousness and so on.
So I try to remember this passage in the Gospel, and repeat it to myself often - as an examen.
Henry Karlson has a very good essay related to this, on Vainglory, I'll share an excerpt here:
Nothing is so quick to turn us away from the good than by seeking praise and honors for doing so, because once we become accustomed to accept such praise as signifying what is good and just, we will find ourselves malleable to the whims of what is temporarily popular. We shall change our ways, we shall change what we do, in order to continue to receive accolades from others. What could be more fickle than that? We might get what we desire, but we will find it is fleeting: the praise is momentary, while life continues on. We will find out that when we get such a reward that it does not satisfy us. When our fame dies down, we will have to do something once again to gain the attention of others ... - Vainglory
The young are especially vulnerable to social approval. As I have aged I have cared less and less to act in a certain way just to please others. It s freeing, but still requires restraint so as not to hurt others. So much harm comes from trying to please our parents especially if they are difficult, demanding and living vicariously through their children. True humility is a gift which comes through God's grace alone. It is not a natural characteristic of human beings.
ReplyDeleteI once considered publishing a book of photographs I had produced on Medjugorje, but I wasn’t sure of my motives. Was I doing this to promote Medjgorje, was I doing it for financial profit, or was I doing it for self glory? I explained my uncertainty to a wise Franciscan priest who was familiar with the work I was doing. His response was very simple: “Do it for the glory of God, and if God wants to share some of the glory with you, then accept it.”
ReplyDeleteI never did publish the work in book form. :)