- Feb 5, 2002
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Today is April 3, Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent.
We hear at today’s Mass, “How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?” (Jn 5:44).
Jesus warns us about seeking praise from other people. But why would we seek praise from others in the first place? One of the greatest desires of the human heart is to be known and acknowledged as good. We want to be accepted by others and thereby be affirmed in our identity.
When we are seeking this from other people, it can take a lot of work. Think of the athlete who is trying to impress the coach or the student working extra hard to impress a teacher. Children want to be accepted by their parents. In each of these cases, it takes focus and attention on another person to be accepted and affirmed by them.
Sometimes, this desire goes too far. We become “people pleasers” because we depend on others liking and praising us for our own contentment with who we are. All of our focus is on those around us and what they think of us. Do they think I am praiseworthy? Will they affirm me in my goodness?
Continued below.
www.oursundayvisitor.com
We hear at today’s Mass, “How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?” (Jn 5:44).
Jesus warns us about seeking praise from other people. But why would we seek praise from others in the first place? One of the greatest desires of the human heart is to be known and acknowledged as good. We want to be accepted by others and thereby be affirmed in our identity.
When we are seeking this from other people, it can take a lot of work. Think of the athlete who is trying to impress the coach or the student working extra hard to impress a teacher. Children want to be accepted by their parents. In each of these cases, it takes focus and attention on another person to be accepted and affirmed by them.
Sometimes, this desire goes too far. We become “people pleasers” because we depend on others liking and praising us for our own contentment with who we are. All of our focus is on those around us and what they think of us. Do they think I am praiseworthy? Will they affirm me in my goodness?
Understanding our identity
Continued below.
Seeking the praise of men
Jesus teaches us to seek praise from God, not from others, as we discover our true identity, worth and purpose in him.
www.oursundayvisitor.com
