Reflection

We live in a world where competition, not cooperation, seems to be the rule of thumb. From an early age, we have been subconsciously indoctrinated with the idea that we have to outdo, defeat and demolish the competition. Whether that be in school academics, sports or ordinary play, our stance is to compete and win. No wonder we see each other first as competitors rather than partners. Sadly, even in not a few Catholic universities & schools such an outlook of being competitors rather than cooperators has been unwittingly promoted. Case in point: the UAAP basketball. They say it’s the school spirit. I say it’s foolish and pathetic, to say the least.

We see the same in our readings today. People who should know better were not exempt from seeing those who were not part of their group as competitors, therefore, a threat. In the 1st reading, a young man ran to Moses and reports how two men, Eldad and Medad, unofficial prophets, were prophesying in God’s name. The response of Moses to the “sumbungero” shows he is not insecure or feels threatened but sees those preaching God’s word as partners. Moses says, “If only the whole people of the Lord were prophets, and the Lord gave his Spirit to them all!” The situation in the gospel reading is an exact parallel, and Jesus’ response is just like that of Moses. “Anyone who is not against us is for us.”

It becomes clear for all of us who at times become rigid in the ways God reveals Himself that we cannot restrict him according to our expectations alone. Listening to other Christian sects and religious groups, there is a tendency to compete and put down other denominations in the most vile and despicable language possible. The claim that they are the truest church and non-membership with them means eternal damnation runs contrary to the gospel message of Jesus. Indeed, there was a time in our church history as Catholics that we acted in the same manner, maybe even worse. But we have learned since then. We need not compete, put down and demolish each other for we bring the same message from the same Lord and savior who said that “anyone who is not against us is for us.” Every time we say we preach the good news of Jesus yet continue to denigrate and despise each other we lessen the power of the message of Jesus. Every time we keep putting down those whose set of beliefs are different from ours, we become a stumbling block towards fast-forwarding the establishment of God’s kingdom in our midst. We lessen the power of God’s word because of our over-competitiveness and malicious intent. Proving the truth we claim we possess by destroying the good name of another betrays one’s ignorance of the mind and heart of Jesus. Only a truth that is very unsure of itself feels compelled to make an enemy of the other.

Response

The official teaching of the Catholic faith with regards other religions is clearly stated in the document of the Second Vatican Council: “The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these [non-Christian] religions. She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all people” (Nostra Aetate). This is not watering down or discarding the fullness of our Catholic faith founded on the apostles. But it is faithfulness to the spirit of Jesus who embraced everyone, sinners and saints alike, even the pagan centurion who, in the end, acknowledge that he is not worthy to received Jesus “but only say the word and I shall be healed.”