24 September | Youth
«The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, “God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.”» Luke 18:11
There are at least two reasons why certain individuals feel superior to others. First, by believing in the idea of “natural inheritance,” that is, imagining that, by a stroke of luck, the things they have “belong to them by acquired right.” The second reason is “personal merit,” the notion that what one has was acquired with blood, sweat and tears, such as the medal received, the diploma on the wall, the work completed, the reputation built, the children raised, the house paid for, the car purchased, the fit body, or the salary received.
Hard-working people, who worked a lot, fought to have what they have, survived difficulties, overcame addictions and were successful in certain areas of life, are sometimes, unfortunately, the same people who prevent others from taking off. Very demanding teachers can fall into this trap, as can tough parents, not to mention veterans, elite athletes, senior executives, or intellectuals, among others. People with a superiority complex do not teach, they only evaluate. They do not inspire; they look down from above. They do not sympathize, they disdain. They do not bet on people, they distrust them. They do not take risks, they watch their backs. They do not stretch out their hand, they push into the abyss. They do not rescue, they abandon. They do not provide care, they leave others to die. They do not use power to redeem, they use it to impose authority, humiliate and destroy.
For Jesus, being superior represents something quite different from that. It is about serving, helping, empowering, inspiring. The Pharisee in the parable did not err by fasting, tithing, acting with honesty and discipline, or being faithful to his beliefs. None of this is bad. It is bad when you despise those who contradict your expectations. It is bad to confuse justice with indifference; something God never does. The Lord surprises us by justifying despicable publicans and censoring immaculate Pharisees. For God, there is no superiority without compassion or leadership without love.
Today, He challenges you to do good to those who do not deserve it, to reach out to weak and unworthy people. They may, by grace, find in you a reason to seek the God you claim to follow.