Pride is such an unusual element found in every human being.
It is a two-faced emotion. On one hand, it evokes a sense of accomplishment and self-confidence; on the other, it is a destructive barrier that every human being feels compelled to protect. The question, however, is why?
What is it with pride that makes people arrogant and overly defensive? Why do people forget the importance of forgiveness simply because of their pride? And most certainly, what the hell is ego and why does everyone seem to possess it?
In the short time that I’ve been around, I have encountered a bunch of people from different walks of life. For some reason, a small word of caution for them caused so much havoc (not to mention disturbance to their pride) that it almost felt impossible to fix—and up to this moment, it is yet to be. In the end, I realized that the only thing that is pulling everyone apart is pride.
One person is so eager to protect her pride that she cannot admit her own fault, and instead, passes all the blame on the others. To fuel the fire, she has someone behind her to feed on her ego. It doesn’t make things any worse than that.
Somehow, the better off your stature in life is, the harder it is for you to lower your pride and admit to yourself that you are indeed human just like anybody else. Luckily, I am but a measly commoner that I was able to swallow whatever pride I have left to admit my share of the fault and say my apologies. For others, sadly, it is not as easy as that.
Let this serve as a reminder to everyone.
I attended Sunday mass two weeks ago only to be bludgeoned by the truth. Over and over have I encountered signs and messages that tell me that no argument should be left unsettled.
As it is in every Catholic celebration of the Eucharist, the priest went on with his homily. He blatantly admitted that he believes the sincerity of people attending mass has gone awry. Instead, going to church every Sunday happens only because it has become part of a routine. In fact, he went on to challenge everyone to ask themselves, “Who among you have come out of church after a Sunday mass and said, ‘Wow! That was such a spiritually uplifting experience!'?”
Luckily, the deacon behind the priest comically raised his hand. Well, you should probably expect that kind of an answer from him. For all the others, however, there was no show of hands.
After an awkward moment of truthful silence, the priest went on and talked about forgiveness. A sincere and spiritually uplifting experience, he claims, only comes from a heart that is free of hatred and grudges, thus it is very crucial to acknowledge the importance of forgiveness. After a lengthy but meaningful sermon, I was struck by the simple line the priest uttered in the end: “Learn to love AGAIN.”
If Jesus could forgive the entire human race of its sins, not to mention offer Himself for forgiveness, what makes you any special? Why can’t you forgive? Aside from that, why can’t you ask for forgiveness?
Don’t let your pride hinder your desire for peace. Any argument has an ending, as long as there is forgiveness and humility in the hearts of all that are involved.
I am saying this not because I can come clean and say that I have forgiven all those that have hurt me, but instead, let this serve as an invitation for forgiveness. Let us all learn to forgive, and at the same time, learn to ask for forgiveness.
Pride is an unnecessary shield that makes us feel superior to others. Because of it, arguments are left unsolved, and conflicts are put aside to burrow deeper into our hearts. The longer we keep our grudges, the harder it is to forgive and be forgiven.
Why do you think are we encouraged to settle our arguments the same day they are committed? Yet despite this, why do so many people always ask for “space” after a fight? All this does is prolong the hurt and allow for our pride to balloon unnecessarily. In the end, it does not encourage forgiveness.
Being able to forgive and be forgiven is not going to scar your reputation or lower your sense of well-being. All it does is remind you that you are human, capable of committing mistakes. At the same time, you should be able to acknowledge that everyone else around you is also capable of committing mistakes. Because of this, there is no excuse for forgiveness. One must indeed learn to forgive in order to be forgiven. If Jesus could forgive all of humanity, then why can't we forgive the few people who have trespassed us?
Think of it this way. Have you ever been nailed to a cross yet? Of course not. But if ever it happens to you, would you be able to forgive those who nailed you to the cross on the grounds that they do not know what they were doing? I bet not. Well, Jesus did. So what makes it hard for you to forgive other people? You certainly are no Jesus, yet you find it harder to forgive. Why so?
In all honesty, I have been hurt by what has happened in the past and am still picking up the pieces and mending my wounds. But I have exhausted all the “space” I needed to stand up and live a normal life again. Sadly, no one has ever come up to me and swallowed their pride to ask for forgiveness. I, along with a few people (two to be exact), have already done the lion’s share of the work. All we ask now is for them to admit that, like us, they are simply human, no matter what social class they belong to. All we hope for is an end to this exhausting fight.
How I wish they could just let go of their pride and put things back to where they should be. Then again, they might be too busy protecting their pride to do that. (After all, who would want to say sorry to someone younger than you? We are so used to thinking that adults are ALWAYS right. Well, THINK AGAIN.)
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Pride & Forgiveness
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
West Side Story
I've been a little busy lately because I was making a layout for Christian Bautista's official website for his upcoming role as Tony on a local production of the Broadway musical, West Side Story.
Check it out: www.christianbautistaonline.com :)
Sunday, June 1, 2008
By Faith Alone?
Bilang isang Romano Katoliko, may mga ilang paniniwala ang simbahan na seryoso kong pinapangatawanan at ipinaglalaban. Isa sa mga pinakaimportante ay ang debate sa kung paano tayo maisasalba ng Panginoon mula sa ating mga kasalanan upang makasama natin Siya magpakailanman sa kabilang buhay. Are we really saved by faith alone?
Naglipana ang mga papel na may mga salita ng Diyos sa kalye. Kadalasan ay makakapulot ka ng mga pakalat-kalat lamang sa mga gasolinahan. Pagbuklat mo sa maliit na papel ay may mensaheng nagsasabing, "kapag tinanggap mo ang Panginoon ng buong-buo sa iyong buhay, ikaw ay maililigtas!" Karamihan pa sa mga papel na ito ay pinupuna ang turo ng simbahang Katoliko na hindi lamang tayo maisasalba sa pamamagitan ng paniniwala sa Diyos, kung hindi pati na rin sa ating mga gawain. In short, we are saved through faith AND good actions.
Kanina sa simbahan, napakaganda ng gospel mula sa libro ni Mateo. Dito sinabi ni Kristo ang mga pinakaimportanteng salita na makasasagot sa lahat ng katanungan ng debateng ito. Ayon sa Matthew 7:21-27:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
Katwiran pa ng pari na namuno sa misa, ang paniniwalang tayo ay maisasalba sa pamamagitan ng ating paniniwala at mga gawain ay isa sa mga pinakaimportanteng kaibahan ng simbahang Katoliko sa iba pang simbahang Kristiyano.
24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Hindi sapat ang paniniwala sa Diyos at pakikinig sa banal na salita upang ikaw ay maisalba. Mahalaga rin na maipakita mo sa pamamagitan ng iyong mga gawain na ikaw ay namumuhay sa mga salita ng Diyos. Kahit sino ay kayang makinig sa salita ng Diyos, ngunit hindi lahat ay may kakayanang sundin ang mga nakasaad dito.
Sa mga karanasang nadaanan ng pamilya namin, napagtanto ko na ang pagiging Kristiyano ay isang mahirap na hamon. Walang madaling paraan na gawin ang ating tungkulin bilang mga tagasunod ni Kristo. Tayo ay huhusgahan, pagdududahan, hahamunin, at susubukan. There are no shortcuts in being a Christian. Kung nagawa ng Diyos magpapako sa krus at magpakahirap para lamang tubusin ang mga kasalanan ng sanlibutan, sino ang nagbigay sa'tin ng karapatang gumawa na lamang ng kahit anong bagay at umasang tayo ay isasalba pa rin dahilan lamang sa tayo ay naniniwala sa Diyos? Kung nagpakahirap siya para sa'tin, hindi ba karapat-dapat din natin siyang suklian ng paghihirap at pagmamahal?
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