Be Noble
“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” ~ Ernest Hemingway
There are a few scriptures that really resonate with me and my experiences. One of them was when Jesus addressed His followers, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt.” (Mk 10:42)
The whole concept of “lording over” is something that I really cannot stand. There are people who seem to feel that they are only special if they can make others know that they are more superior than any one else. I’m sorry. Making people feel bad about themselves is not the mark of a good leader. That is so abhorrent to me.
As we continue our celebration of the Octave of Easter, we are reminded that none of us are more important than anyone else. The only one who is most important is the Lord. We are nothing more than His servants.
Jesus did give us a pathway to importance if we so choose, though: service. If we want to be great, Jesus told us, we could become a servant. If we wanted to be the greatest among ourselves, we could become the greatest servant.
Anyway you slice it, greatness was equated with service. Service and not lording over others. Service and not lording over others and not making people feel inferior. Get the point? If you want to compete, compete with yourself.
FAITH ACTION: Be the best you that you can be today. Make sure that you are better than you were yesterday.