“When we become obsessed of being THE BEST

“I want to be the first. No, I want to be the best. I want to be the NUMBER ONE if not THE ONLY ONE.” These are very human inclinations we see and recognize even in our own selves. We aspire to take the highest places, the most important titles, the most powerful position in the company or office, etc. That’s what we are. That’s who we are, isn’t it?
 
Well Jesus reminds his apostles and his disciples to be aware of these human inclinations which oftentimes lead people to self-pride, holding on to power, feeding the ego, and greed.
 
Jesus says, “Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant.” Taking the less prominent and totally opposite direction, Jesus tells us that we must learn the value of humility. Enough with self-preservation. Enough with too much pride. Enough with always looking after power, prestige, and the high applause of people. This is quite challenging for the apostles and his disciples. And the same to all of us. 
 
With the growing number of population in the world, with the fast-changing technology, lifestyle which in effect the increasing competition on who gets to the top, people, whether rich or poor, are inclined in trying to be the best in everything. To get first in everything.
 
Parents would always teach, if not, remind their children to do well in school, or in their work so that they can be on the top list of the school or to get the best job in the company. And often, we unconsciously teach the children to forget about values, to forget about morality, to put secondary the people who might be hurt in the process. The focus is becoming very clear – be on the top of everything!
 
Brothers and sisters, we are reminded to be humble in everything. The purpose of life is not simply to be the best or to be the highest honor in class, or to get the finest paying job. But life is also about trusting God, following God’s will, embracing failure and pain, and serving others.
 
What is the dignity of being the best and yet we fail to see the needs of others in our own community or family? What is the there in too much wealth when we only serve ourselves and those close to us? What is good about having the highest position in the company or even in the government, when we only focus on growing our own wealth through corruption and other sinful acts of greed?
 
Let us not be blinded by what the eyes can see. Let us not be misled by the material wealth and power that the world offers. It might be true that some of us are gifted with the opportunity to serve the government or our community and society yet if we are blind by the responsibility of serving other people because of our position, failing to address the needs of others simply because we are too coward to do what is right and proper, then that role and opportunity is not meant to be prolonged. 
 
Humility through service to others is the answer. To follow the Lord in this life is simply to serve others and we cannot do that if we keep on singing the same tune, or dancing the same dance. We have to do the opposite of what most people are doing right now. We have to go out of our usual ways. We have to give up what our ideas have been telling us. We have to do as what Jesus did for all of us, he sacrificed himself, died for us, offered his life for our sake. 
 
If you want to be the best, then serve others. That’s it.
-Fr. Rockmoore M. Saniel, OMI