Whoever thinks high of himself, whoever feels he is of importance in politics or in academia or in a church or in a mosque, has fallen in vain glory. He who brags about his family gains only littleness that steals from him any splendor he may have and gives him no highness at all. He who has knowledge is so for the sake of truth and helping others and not to brag about what he knows. Truth charms the righteous and draws him to itself because it refines us; no one is the sole custodian of Truth. Those who are overtaken with what they own should know that we are not ‘owners’ but only ‘trustees” of what we have. Those who consider themselves close to God on their own, are cast away from Him; and those who seek positions will fall from them because they think they deserve them.
When I was sixteen years of age and have graduated from High School, I applied for a job, in one of the big companies, to earn my living; I was surprised that I was not offered the job except after I had a test. I was surprised because I had thought that my academic degree was more than enough to qualify me (but it was not) for the job, but at the same time I was happy because the administrators in the company were seeking the adequate competence of those they employ.
Few days ago, someone came asking me to vote for one of the priests to make him bishop of one of the cities. Of course, I am familiar with those who consider themselves eligible for a post of that sort. But does that brother who asked me know how Christian in spirit is that man or knowledgeable of Christ he is, or how loving he is and ready to offer himself for the sake of the brethren washing their feet and as such emptying himself as he shares his life with them?
What drives certain citizens to seek the office of deputy? Does not this self- soliciting person know that he does not know how to acceptably present a bill? The Directory General of Petroleum often comes to mind; if we established that here in Lebanon, would we choose the qualified person who has earned a degree in that from a renowned institution? Does the one seeking marriage know how much he/she is willing and ready to share one’s life with another? Does the one seeking monasticism know how much he is willing and able to free himself from the lusts of the flesh? Is each one of us in the ‘right’ place as Plato wanted things to be?
Our world is one sick with vain-glory.
One of the Princes of Moldavia, in the fourteenth century, wrote to his successor: “My son. Do not desire to become a bishop or the head of a monastery or a prince (the office he was supposed to occupy after the death of his father) because all that is of the glory of this world. Accordingly I do not understand how some priests desire to become bishops thinking that they will gain power, when they do not know the difficulties of this mission and the oppression they get exposed to quite often. Why this rivalry among them? Does not rivalry hide under it a feeling that they are superior to their peers? Where did they get that from? You as a monk should remain in your monastery until your Patriarch sends you news that the Holy Synod has chosen you as Bishop, and then you get to your office by God’s grace.
In this world, you go through much study, and you excel and become well known, then your folk would push you for a position of responsibility, or you might get called by the government or a certain party or a political grouping to hold a certain office. But in our country, you push yourself. All this rivalry is pride. I have always liked how in the Catholic monastic communities, someone would be given the highest office that could be held but after that he could be back to the ‘lowest’ office in that order. Here, being ‘head’ is a service and the lowest office is a service too. Do not let glory knock at the door of your heart. With that you become a slave to glory. But if you empty yourself from such passion, God would come to you and dwell in you. The whole matter is in this question: “Is God the lord of your life or that ‘self’ of yours which is hard and self-centered”?
Our story with the self is how much we realize that nothing can be added to it; and that if it humbles itself, it becomes the whole of existence. That is what Jesus of Nazareth meant when he said that you cannot add to your height anything. In that sense you cannot fill yourself except from what it (the self) offers.
As such if you give your money to the needy then “your righteousness will remain forever” as the psalm says. And if you need it, you would consider that you are not the only one in need of it. You are a part of this world and whatever is outside yourself is a slave to you. And the slave does master you. You are its master because you are free of it. Understand what our Fathers in the Church said: “You are entrusted with the money because it does not belong to you”. You manage it to make it at the service of those in need of it. Through such giving, those become your brothers. Only love makes you feel that you are a brother of those around you. Therefore rid yourself of every lust because each lust breaks you up and fragments you.
More damaging than the love of money is that of power. A ‘giant’ in the spiritual life said:”Every type of power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Certain situations put you in a position of power. Exercise it being free from it; in that sense you are one who only reminds those you have power over, and that should be done in love. But if you dominate them, you sever yourself from them; that makes them hate you. Keep in mind that you are not a god, and that only with kindness you can draw people to their God.
It is your duty to face others with matters, discuss them with them and bring out for them the truth which they would surely find to be beneficial and saving. In revealing the truth comes agreement and harmony and pure human interaction. Consider that every man has the right to truth. Free people from yourself, and they become lovers of God. Do not seek to be loved, but seek only to love. Often you are reciprocated that love with a greater one; but you, do not ask for it. Bring others to seek their Lord; He will bestow upon them the grace of spending himself for others. Sufficient for you to have your life in the others, as such your glory will be in God’s heart.
Learn what the Scriptures say: “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity”. ECCLES 1: 2. All is vanity except you and the brothers. Existence is in one’s being, and that ‘being’ does not oppose those who want to dominate. Real being meets others in their ‘poverty’ for God and for each other since nothing is outside the heart. The Kingdom of God is in the heart and it is one with it; and so each heart becomes His (God’s) throne. Then Real Glory descends on them (the hearts). That is God’s countenance in them.
Translated by Riad Moufarrij
Original Text: “المجد الباطل” –An Nahar- 10.10.2011
