Thursday, May 17, 2012

Bravado vs. Humility

Just for pretense of bravery or bravado people show off signs of strength to create an impression of power and superiority.  How many wars, acts of violence, victims of bloody skirmishes have resulted from such a disposition of human pride!

But that’s not the one that’s really great in the sight of God.  Referring to the virtue of humility, Jesus spoke thus to His disciples: “I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  And so, the one who makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 18:3-4).  Isn’t that wonderful?  Why?  Just observe the happiness of the little children.  That’s what you want too, in addition to your maturity, if you’re already grown up.

The only thing that could spoil our happiness is what we may have acquired through the years, a sense of sensitive pride, some ambition and greed.  This is what may be behind the gnawing unhappiness that might creep inside you.  But maintaining that supreme trust in God amid the trials in life can help reacquire that psyche of a little child who is ever happy in the little things or happenings of life.  Jesus wants you to be happy when he asks you to be humble.  “I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Mk. 10:15).  You better decide.  If you want to be happy, leave those thoughts of greed and pride and become as that happy child whose destiny is God’s eternal kingdom.  The Son of God, Jesus, humbled Himself till death on the cross.  “But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all other names so that all beings in the heavens, on earth, and in the underworld, shall bend the knee at the name of Jesus and that every tongue should acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Ph.2:9-11).

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