FEARING HUMAN OPINION
(May 15)
“How can you believe, who receive honor/glory (δόξαν) from one another, and do not seek the honor/glory (δόξαν) that comes from the only God?” (Jn 5:44)
One might say it is only human to cherish human opinion, especially that of our closest people, of “one another.” Social media culture, in which our community-building is based on the likes and dislikes of human opinion, makes it very easy for us to over-focus on the honor/glory that we receive (or do not receive) also from strangers. But our Lord tells us in today’s Gospel reading that faith in Him, true faith, is not possible for us when we slip into focusing on human opinion alone, to the point of losing sight of God and His opinion: “How can you believe,” He asks us, “who receive honor/glory (δόξαν) from one another, and do not seek the honor/glory (δόξαν) that comes from the only God?” (Jn 5:44) It is not possible to have faith, when merely-human fear rules our hearts. Because fear is the opposite of faith.
How can I turn this around, when I feel troubled or distracted by “seeking” or craving the honor/glory of certain, merely-human someone(s), and how can I begin to “seek the honor/glory that comes from the only God”? I can open my heart to communion with Him, Who Himself was not honored or glorified by everyone, not even “His own”: He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. (Jn 1:11) I find the peace of not-distracted, not warped and “upright glory” (“ortho-doxy”), when I place myself before Christ, as I am, with a heart broken and humbled by my failures and successes. He lets us do that, when we let ourselves do that, because “a broken and humble heart God does not despise.” (Ps 50/51:17) And He defends us, as we choose to focus on Him, when other voices would want us to be doing something else, because this is “the one thing needed.” He says: This child of Mine “has chosen the good part, which will not be taken from her.” (Lk 10:42)
So, today let us make ourselves right with Him, placing ourselves before Him as we are, and not worry about what we might tend to think is more needed. Thank You, Lord, for chasing self-centered fear out of our hearts, and bless this cloudy morning with Your glory.
