Say NO to entitlements

LET’S be clear about this. We obviously are entitled to

our rights but we should not feel entitled to privileges and favors

that are above our rights and needs. If they come and we cannot avoid

them, then let’s be thankful.

  

            But let’s be reminded that these privileges, favors and

blessings are meant for us to strengthen our desire to serve and not

to be served. But as it is, we should try to avoid them, since they

tend only to spoil and corrupt us.

  

            We have to be most wary when we happen to enjoy some

privileged positions or status in life because we tend to think that

we deserve more entitlements. And not only would we expect them. We

may even demand them for us.

  

            That gospel episode where the two brother-apostles, James

and John, asked Christ that they be seated one on his right and the

other on his left in the Kingdom, reminds us of this point. (cfr Mk

10,32-45) These two brothers were already close to Christ, but they

were not contented with that. They wanted more.

  

            This, sad to say, seems to be a common phenomenon these

days. It can affect everyone, of course, but it especially affects the

young ones who appear to be more privileged than those in the previous

generations because of the many new things they are learning and

enjoying now. And they feel entitled.

            We should banish this temptation as soon as it makes its

appearance felt in us. On the contrary, we should follow the example

of Christ who, in spite of who he is, just wanted to serve.

            In that gospel episode cited above, he reminded his

apostles that “whoever wishes to be great among you will be your

servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of

all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to

give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mk 10,43-45)

   

            The request of the two brothers really smelled of a

brattish mind, since it was made just after Christ talked about his

impending death on the cross. It was so insensitive of them, to say

the least. And they were already two of the closest apostles of

Christ!

   

            To make his point stronger, Christ insisted in the Last

Supper that he washed the feet of their apostles. Peter at first

refused but Christ insisted, if only to give them an example that what

he did to them should be done among themselves and everybody else. And

he reassured them that they would be blessed if they do it. (cfr. Jn

13,15-17)

  

            Should that reassurance of Christ to his apostles not

reassure us also to do the same? We should indeed instill in our mind

and heart simply to serve and not to be served. We should try to avoid

entitlements, or the pursuit of human glory.

  

            Remember what Christ said once: “Be careful not to

practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If

you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Mt 6,1)

  

            We need to acquire the mentality of a servant which is

actually the mentality of Christ himself. Let us readjust our human

standards to conform to what is actually proper to us as taught and

lived by Christ. We usually look down on the status of servants. This

has to change! We should be convinced that by becoming a servant we

would be making ourselves like Christ.

  

            Let’s say NO to entitlements. Let’s just focus on how to

serve God and others more and better. This should be the motto of our

life: SERVE, SERVE, SERVE!