RWS # 263 for Dec. 9, 2007, 2nd Sunday of Advent

Gospel: Mt. 3: 1-12
11 I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I.
I am not worthy to carry his sandals.

Excellence and humility
By Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD

The humble attitude of John the Baptist who acknowledged Jesus as “mightier than I” is not very common among us, mortals. Our most preferred mode in our relationship with others is the “I am the greatest” attitude. The prevailing competitive spirit in today’s world strongly affirms this mind-set and behavior also in the world of work and business. Almost no one would admit that he is weaker than his competitor or that his products or services are lesser in quality than those of the others. Very few managers would not openly admit that their subordinates are better than them, nor are there many rank and file workers who would give affirmation and appreciation to colleagues who show better work performance than them.

Yet, it is clear that in the “career” (mission) of John the Baptist, humility—acceptance of his proper role given by God, and acknowledging the primacy of Christ over his being and his mission—did not hinder him from performing his work in a most excellent way. People around him and Christ, Himself commended him for a job well-done. To aim at excellence in work therefore, would not mean to look down on others and their capabilities and value only or solely one’s own competence; but, working to the top would require a sincere and humble acceptance of the truth that what we are and what we can do are gifts from the Source of our being and life.

Everyone, in whatever career or rank in his job, whether one considered as the lowest or the highest, would always be the best in his category when he would sincerely acknowledge that it is the Lord who is mightier than him, and would give all his best for the Lord and in the accomplishment of his given task.


An otherwise cold world
By Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

This business of being “worthy to carry His sandals” reminds me of an incident that happened some 12 years ago. I was helping the driver and the delivery man unload packs of Blue Collar magazine at the Don Bosco Mandaluyong campus, carrying them from the van to the storeroom, when a young priest, Fr. Jack, passed by. Seeing that there were thousands of copies to unload, he promptly joined us. Though surprised, I welcomed the idea of a priest doing the job of a delivery man, so we happily continued, oblivious to the usual campus activity around us.

Then some students in their late teens, noticing the priest’s extraordinary task, put down their rucksacks to help us as well, so that the work was done speedily. Much later on, I overheard Fr. Jack telling the students “Kung yung mismong editor, babae pa, mas matanda pa sa akin, nagbubuhat ng magasin natin, bakit hindi ako?” (If the editor herself, a woman at that, and older than me, would cart our magazine, why not me?)

Himself revered by the people as a prophet, preacher and baptizer, John showed humility in admitting his unworthiness and recognizing his role before the Lord. In stepping out of his role as priest to momentarily become a manual worker, Fr. Jack manifested compassion, the visible fruit of an interior humility. Did it make him less of a priest? No; in fact, it expressed the essence of priesthood—servant leadership. The younger men took his lead, the load was shared, and the task was finished efficiently. Do we find in our workplaces presidents who would in an emergency change a blown out fuse, or offer you a lift home during a flash flood? There is room for humility in the workplace—it affirms the warmth of God’s presence in an otherwise cold world.