Who Is Important?
Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory;
rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,
each looking out not for his own interests,
but also everyone for those of others. (Phil 2:3-4)
We begin our lives thinking that everything revolves around us. We try to do everything that we can to steer the attention toward ourselves. We try to get people to play by our rules, to think about us, to give us the first and best of their attention.
There is something to be said for doing good for others. If nothing else, it gets us out of the mindset that we are “the most important person in the room.”
When we focus solely on ourselves, we miss out on the richness of the world around us.
God has made many things. God has made so many people and placed them on this earth so that they, together, can find their way to the Kingdom. God does not want to lose any of us. We are all just as important, all just as special as any particular person.
No one is tops, except for God.
When we recognize that, we begin to view the needs of others and try to accommodate their needs.
Today, we celebrate the feast of St. Martin de Porres, a great saint who called himself the slave of all. He treated all people — regardless of color, upbringing, or belief — the same because Martin realized that they were brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Do you set yourself over others? Do you think some people have more value than others? Do you think some people have no value at all?
If that is the case, it is time to look at people as God looks at people: as beloved creations.
FAITH ACTION: Do something good for as many people as possible today.