What Do I Do With My "Self"?

The world is “a battlefield between the forces
of self-giving and self-indulgence”
-- The Better Part, Meditation 112

The chapter I read in The Better Part was a meditation on today’s Gospel (Mk 6:14-29).  In the reading, Herod has John the Baptist beheaded.  The thoughts expressed in TBP are a good lead-in to my own:

“John is willing to sacrifice everything, to be true to his mission and to God’s will.  He is a model of integrity.  Herod is willing to sacrifice the truth --- willing to sacrifice justice --- to his vanity.  He is so concerned about what his peers think of him, so concerned about his reputation, that he commits the heinous crime of executing an innocent, righteous man.  We too have to choose between vanity and integrity.

What kind of friend was Herod?  He betrayed his brother (took his wife), betrayed his wife, and his birthday guests only mattered to him because of what they would think and say about him.  Herod is incapable of authentic friendship because he is completely wrapped up in himself.

Jesus is just the opposite … He cares about others.”

I’ve had thoughts (and written here) about our earthly and spiritual mission.   They exist side by side, with one or the other taking a priority.  Using Jesus’ life as an example, I discerned an early life focus on earthly life priorities, with a latter years’ focus on spiritual matters (my Retirement Planning post).  But, this Gospel and other personal and world events have reminded me that at all times BOTH priorities are overlapping.  Spiritual matters of loving neighbor, acting virtuously and justly MUST influence our earthly matters focus.  Herod’s earthly killing of John the Baptist bore no influences of spiritual matters --- things that he admitted he liked to hear John talk about, “knowing him to be a good and holy man”.  But, Herod’s self-indulgence far out-weighed any spiritual influences he felt toward self-giving.

I think we have many imitators of Herod in the world today.

Certainly, politicians are ready examples.  They appear to have (in my opinion) an undue focus on what people think of them.  Indeed, there are some whose public and private actions widely differ (which we know because nothing is private anymore).  Were some of today’s politicians in Herod’s power position, it seems they would quickly lop off President Trump’s head, because they think the people want it, and will express their gratitude in votes, so the politicians can stay in power.

It used to be (or was as I perceived it) that politicians sought office for the good they could do for the country and its people --- not themselves.  “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”, said The Prince.  Pope Francis recently spoke that he favors a world leader, who would take from the rich to help the huge numbers of poor, and save the planet.  Even a pope seems influenced by power, and a concern of what people think of him!  He has a good heart, but many good things we would try to do are not necessarily the will of God, which we should seek first.  Factually, in all recorded history there have never been as relatively few poor people in the world as today, indeed the numbers are down over 60% from just 30 years ago, as capitalistic actions improved lives in China, India and Africa, where the largest decreases occurred.

I take no solace in an awareness that there was as much selfishness among politicians in Jesus’ day as today.  It almost makes me think that what He said and did didn’t matter.  But then I think on that last fact, the poor now number less than 10% of the world’s population, down from 30% only 30 years ago.  How was that achieved?

Certainly, it wasn’t because world dictators gave the poor money which they took from the rich.  Nor likely was it because people prayed, and God just made it happen.  No, from what I can discern, it was a focus on earthly matters with a spiritual influence, a love of neighbor --- not in giving the poor man stuff, but in working with him, helping him to maximize his talents, and to maximize his returns on those talents. 

I recall a parable about that, the importance of maximizing the talents God gave us, to give maximum returns.  It’s what He made us to do, and therefore is in our nature to do.  Governments didn’t take charge to reduce the number of poor people, to make it happen, they stepped out of the way to allow it to happen.  I won’t pretend to understand how it was spread and put innate spiritual graces into actions, but I will say Jesus’ presence and example in this world have made a difference --- speaking not to judge the world, of course, but only speaking for me.  And among other things, that awareness in me helps me bear with the Herod’s of this world.  They may do their earthly jobs poorly, not how they were created to do them, but I will use my talents as I believe they were meant to be used, to love my neighbor.  It’s what I do with my “self”.