THERE’S a story in the life of Christ
with his apostles
that exposes and warns us of an anomaly that can lurk even in the
hearts of good people. It’s in Matthew 20,20-28. The mother of James
and John made a special request to Jesus—that her sons would sit one
at his right hand and the other at his left in God’s kingdom.
Christ gave a most gentle excuse that it was not his to
grant that request. “It belongs to those for whom it has been prepared
by my Father.” That’s when the other disciples became indignant at the
two brothers. And so Jesus made the following remark:
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over
them, and their great men exercise authority over them. Not so is it
among you. On the contrary, whoever wishes to become great among you
shall be your servant. Whoever wishes to be first among you shall be
your slave, even as the Son of Man has not come to be served but to
serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
We can term this moral abnormality, this attitudinal
glitch that can come to us in very subtle and beguiling ways as
careerism. As defined in some dictionaries, it is the “practice of
advancing one’s career at the expense of one’s personal integrity.” It
can also be an overwhelming desire or urge for professional
advancement.
It corrupts one’s proper attitude to work and serve, and
whatever is legitimate in one’s natural desire for professional
growth. It’s a terrible illness that has spoiled many people who
started to work well and to be properly motivated, but something went
wrong along the way.
It can have a very complicated network of root causes. But
the real viruses are found in the spiritual and moral aspects. One can
readily see traces of pride, egoism and vainglory, disordinate
attachments to worldly things, ignorance, error and confusion in
relation to the true nature and purpose of work, service and
authority, etc.
It develops in a heart that is anemic due to lack of
spirit of prayer and sacrifice. And if this is reinforced by a morally
sick culture and environment, where the proper values are lived only
in the exterior but not in the interior, then we can have quite a
disastrous pandemic.
Sad to say, signs of these irregularities are getting
aplenty these days. It does not require much skill to discern that
many people are afflicted with this illness, no matter how much they
try to cover it.
It can be gleaned in their attitudes, in their views and
reactions to things, in the questions they ask, the interests they
pursue, the behavior they project in private and in public. It can be
seen in their eyes and faces, the kind of smile they put on. It can be
felt in the tone of their voice and the trajectory of their words.
On the other hand, there’s also a lot of “lording it over”
around us that tends to cultivate this fixation on careerism. People
in position like to show off their power, to flaunt their privileges
and all the glittery trappings of their office.
Boasting seems to have already found a safe niche in
society. And the corresponding practices of flattery, bootlicking
adulation and exaggerated, fawning complaisance are gaining foothold
in people’s culture.
We need to go back to what Christ said about just wanting
“not to be served but to serve.” We need to generate and develop a
strong culture inspired by this attitude. We should be happy to work
and serve wherever we may be, whether up or down, front or back, in
the city or in the barangay, in public or in private.
Truth to tell, I had the luck of witnessing this kind of
culture for a number of times already. And it always makes me happy to
see these genuine manifestations of unselfish dedication and service,
leaving me truly edified and inspired, and wishing I too could be that
way.
When you see people working from the heart, unmindful of
what position they have and of the advantages and disadvantages of
their condition at the moment, I’m sure you will be moved.
I’ve seen persons who one day were presidents and heads of
some groups and then the next day became clerks and assistants and
still doing their work with gusto. It’s truly a marvelous experience.
What matters actually is the love one puts in his work.
It’s not the position or prestige or privileges. Love equalizes and
elevates everything!
that exposes and warns us of an anomaly that can lurk even in the
hearts of good people. It’s in Matthew 20,20-28. The mother of James
and John made a special request to Jesus—that her sons would sit one
at his right hand and the other at his left in God’s kingdom.
Christ gave a most gentle excuse that it was not his to
grant that request. “It belongs to those for whom it has been prepared
by my Father.” That’s when the other disciples became indignant at the
two brothers. And so Jesus made the following remark:
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over
them, and their great men exercise authority over them. Not so is it
among you. On the contrary, whoever wishes to become great among you
shall be your servant. Whoever wishes to be first among you shall be
your slave, even as the Son of Man has not come to be served but to
serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
We can term this moral abnormality, this attitudinal
glitch that can come to us in very subtle and beguiling ways as
careerism. As defined in some dictionaries, it is the “practice of
advancing one’s career at the expense of one’s personal integrity.” It
can also be an overwhelming desire or urge for professional
advancement.
It corrupts one’s proper attitude to work and serve, and
whatever is legitimate in one’s natural desire for professional
growth. It’s a terrible illness that has spoiled many people who
started to work well and to be properly motivated, but something went
wrong along the way.
It can have a very complicated network of root causes. But
the real viruses are found in the spiritual and moral aspects. One can
readily see traces of pride, egoism and vainglory, disordinate
attachments to worldly things, ignorance, error and confusion in
relation to the true nature and purpose of work, service and
authority, etc.
It develops in a heart that is anemic due to lack of
spirit of prayer and sacrifice. And if this is reinforced by a morally
sick culture and environment, where the proper values are lived only
in the exterior but not in the interior, then we can have quite a
disastrous pandemic.
Sad to say, signs of these irregularities are getting
aplenty these days. It does not require much skill to discern that
many people are afflicted with this illness, no matter how much they
try to cover it.
It can be gleaned in their attitudes, in their views and
reactions to things, in the questions they ask, the interests they
pursue, the behavior they project in private and in public. It can be
seen in their eyes and faces, the kind of smile they put on. It can be
felt in the tone of their voice and the trajectory of their words.
On the other hand, there’s also a lot of “lording it over”
around us that tends to cultivate this fixation on careerism. People
in position like to show off their power, to flaunt their privileges
and all the glittery trappings of their office.
Boasting seems to have already found a safe niche in
society. And the corresponding practices of flattery, bootlicking
adulation and exaggerated, fawning complaisance are gaining foothold
in people’s culture.
We need to go back to what Christ said about just wanting
“not to be served but to serve.” We need to generate and develop a
strong culture inspired by this attitude. We should be happy to work
and serve wherever we may be, whether up or down, front or back, in
the city or in the barangay, in public or in private.
Truth to tell, I had the luck of witnessing this kind of
culture for a number of times already. And it always makes me happy to
see these genuine manifestations of unselfish dedication and service,
leaving me truly edified and inspired, and wishing I too could be that
way.
When you see people working from the heart, unmindful of
what position they have and of the advantages and disadvantages of
their condition at the moment, I’m sure you will be moved.
I’ve seen persons who one day were presidents and heads of
some groups and then the next day became clerks and assistants and
still doing their work with gusto. It’s truly a marvelous experience.
What matters actually is the love one puts in his work.
It’s not the position or prestige or privileges. Love equalizes and
elevates everything!
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