Altruism vs. narcissism

WE have to be aware of this danger. With how things are

now, it is quite easy and tempting for something that is good to be

spoiled because of a rotten intention one has in carrying it out. Yes,

one can give alms, do a lot of social work and many works of mercy,

but the motive is not true love for God and for others, but self-love.

            This is when altruism is used as a mask for narcissism.

How many times do we notice that some prominent people—usually

politicians and even clerics, bishops not excluded—showing off their

good work! It’s truly a pity.

            They simply go against what Christ said. “Be careful not

to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you

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

            They simply go against the example of Christ—the way, the

truth and the life for us—who performed a lot of miracles, but who

always told the beneficiaries not to announce these miracles openly.

            Christ knew how to pass unnoticed even while carrying out

the most important mission for mankind. When he was asked to go to

Jerusalem to show his good works there, he refused. (cfr. Jn 7,1-10)

But when disciples went there for the Jewish Festival of the

Tabernacles, he also went, but not publicly. He did it in secret.

            We have to be wary of our tendency and the strong

temptation to bask in the limelight, flaunting whatever we have or

have done. Such tendency and temptation is our way of glorifying

ourselves because we would then be acting on our own authority and not

on the authority of God.

            Regarding this point, Christ said, “He who speaks on his

own authority seeks his own glory. But he who seeks the glory of the

One who sent him is a man of truth. In him, there is no falsehood.”

(Jn 7,18)

            To be able to distinguish between authentic altruism and a

fake one that can only masks one’s narcissism, we need to defer always

to the authority of God. Our thoughts, words and deeds, our

intentions, desires and plans should only be inspired by God’s will

and ways, by his tremendous love for us that knows how to pass

unnoticed.

            It’s amazing that nowadays we see a lot of prominent

people, including high clerics, falling into the false charms of

narcissism by deftly using the mask of altruism. They do a lot of

selfies, they flaunt their accomplishments, they show unashamedly the

foreign places they gone to, the restaurants and the food they have

eaten, the number of fans they have, etc.

            They talk a lot about themselves. Actually the spotlight

is more on them than on their good deeds. The latter are mere props,

simply used to feed their own egos. We have to be careful with this

kind of leaders. Christ already warned us amply about false prophets,

wolves in sheep’s clothing, etc. We have to be discerning to avoid

being taken for a ride.

            While it’s true that some kind of publicity is needed in

one’s work, extreme care should be made so that we do not hijack for

ourselves the glory that only belongs to God. In everything that we

do, only Christ should be known, loved and served. We should try to

avoid the incidental glory that can fall on us due to our work. And if

it cannot be avoided, we should immediately refer it to God.

            In this regard, constant rectification and purification of

our intentions is needed. We should be able to echo what St. John the

Baptist once said: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (Jn 3,30)