The Yoke of Greatness

(Reflection: Queenship of Mary)

Queenship of Mary

Humans' most known tendency is being selfish. Others even call it as human nature – as if it is inborn. For it does not need the whys and the wherefores to act selfishly, nor training, workshops, formations or seminars. Once a person attains consciousness, it is always expected, he will prioritize himself first than the others. On any occasion, one will always select an act or a decision that would benefit him the most. As a result, vices of any sort are developed. It perfectly vibe with human weakness and vulnerability. That is why men whose weakness is an inclination for sex; they’re easily lured to it. And so, with other human weaknesses. However, before it turns to be human weakness, it was once only a thought. A thought one wanted to experience out of curiosity. Yet when it’s tasted, he will be craving for more. From a thought, it became a habit – embedded in one's character. Thus, will evolve one into something he is not. At first, it will be enjoyable, pleasurable and gratifying, but when it is taken, it will turn into a crisis.

An example of this is the story of a man in the 18th Century who was determined to achieve autonomy, success and greatness. His name was Peter. He came from a poor village whose family relied on farming as the means of living. His father was a devout Christian and firm in his belief of a reckoning God. Knowing that his son was stubborn and had no regard in their religion, he refused to give him any money. So, Peter grew with a grudge towards his father. When he finished his High School, he secretly applied to an Engineering University in a big city too far from their home. He was accepted but his father was upset and wouldn't allow him to be away for he might only do whatever he wanted, and eventually lose direction of his life. But Peter was too self-confident that he could make it on his own, so he rejected all the advice of his father about staying, and to return to Christ. True enough, he went to the city on his own. He studied hard and at the same time worked in his vacant hours to sustain his needs. Because of his brilliancy, he met a wealthy friend named Luke, whom he shared his revolutionary idea about turning a turbine’s mechanical energy into electricity. Luke was too amazed hearing about it, so he helped Peter introduce the project to his father, Philip, the wealthiest man in the city. Philip had seen his project as a modern technology and enough to supply a cheaper electrical energy in the whole city. So, he helped Peter propose the project to the Government’s Ministry of Energy. However, the Minister insulted him because the project seems unrealistic and that he was not yet an engineer. The proud Peter got offended, in response he’d thrown derogatory and foul words to the Minister, then walked out. But when Philip found out, he appealed to the Minister. Since they’re friends, the Minister would only approve the project and finance it if Peter would apologize. But Peter stood up on his decision that he better scrap the project than apologize. From then on, Philip stopped giving Peter allowances. He ended up bankrupt and alone. He considered selling his project, but to no avail, nobody took his offer. He returned home depressed and unfulfilled.

Peter’s dream of success and greatness was already within reach, but he dodged on it by his unwillingness to compromise an apology. If he was only humble enough, everything will just fall into its proper places. But it did not happen. The fuel of hypocrisy was just so strong in his senses. He saw himself as perfect and way too superior in intellect than the others. No one can bend his decisions, not even his own father.

Out of sanctimony and bad faith, his true self was alienated from him. He was blinded by hate towards his father. This hate made him into an unbecoming human – capable of true love and expressing oneself clearly. That was why all relationships he had with other people had fallen to ruin because it went against his orchestration. His father was right, if he only returned to Christ in his early years, he must have been guided not by his egotistical self but by the morals of the Church. He must have learned that greatness is bestowed to anyone who is willing enough to bow down to pick it up from the ground. Like Jesus himself, who is a God, who out of love went down from his heavenly throne to earth to sacrifice his life for humanity’s sake. Which such act magnified his greatness in the eyes of the Father. Same as well of his mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, she did not seek to be the savior’s mother but was chosen. And lo, when she’s aware that she’s chosen, she did not boast nor use it as a leverage from others but she committed herself for the service of her son and of the people around her. She did not seek greatness, but because of her humility and obedience, she became great not just in the eyes of the people, but also in the eyes of God.

People must know, aspiring greatness has no price but once it’s achieved, it is twinned with great responsibility. It has to be carried out with great courage and humility – the self-recognition that one has only climbed the social ladder and not become a master of anyone. These are the common mistakes of great people in history. Not knowing that the yoke of greatness is not responsibility, but the struggle to keep an eye to one’s real identity. That whatever happens, we will stay as humans. And no matter how great and how high in social status we can get to, we will never become God.

©JMJ's Quodlibet