TOLERATE INSULTS, IT IS PART OF LIFE'S GROWTH

 

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Office: Psalter Week 1

FIRST READING- Genesis. 2: 18-25
Psalm.  128: 1-5 (R. see la)
Gospel.  Mark 7: 24-30

TOPIC FOR REFLECTION

TOLERATE INSULTS, IT IS PART OF LIFE'S GROWTH 

I have come to realize that insult is part of life. Anyone who wishes to survive in life should not pay attention to insult, because either one likes it or not, it must come directly or indirectly to one.

Those who have attained a certain height of spirituality in life paid no attention to insult.
Insult could come in different ways and manners, but what matters most is that attention should not be given to it.

Let me share with you one great secret of life which I discovered recently, though I may say I discovered it late 😆, is that if you pay no attention to the person insulting you, shame soon envelops him or her who insults you.
Though I must be sincere that it is not easy to endure insult, if one can overcome it, one has already overcome his or her enemy. (Such action is called pẹpẹ them with your silence 😆)

On the contrary, what makes some of us feel insulted is as a result of our ego.
We all plant, water, and nurture our egos, and would ordinarily want people to romance, massage, and appreciate our rooted built ego; hence, we condition our minds for appreciation alone and not criticisms. Then, once anybody born of a woman refuses to massage, romance, and appreciate our ego, we become angry.
The next common statement will be...
Do you know me?
Do you know who you are talking to?
Am I your mate?
Where were you when I was this or that? etc
Hmmm, this has made many people lose their true friends who perhaps refuse to massage their ego and tell them the truth, but with their whole heart and mind welcome their enemies who massage their egos but are sycophants who are ready to destroy.

Similarly, those who can not imagine insult nor welcome it are those who flare up at any slight insult; these are the people that PRIDE is rooted in them.
Meanwhile, those who can accommodate insult do not flare up when insulted, rather they swallow it and offer it to God. These are the people that HUMILITY is rooted deep in them.

An example of a person who does not pay attention to insult, but remains focused and firm about her faith is the Syrophoenician woman whose faith was tested by Jesus. Her faith was tested in form of an insult, but her reply to Jesus made her prayer be answered.

Let us examine the conversation between the woman and Jesus.
'The woman begged Jesus to cast the demon out of her daughter. And Jesus said to her, “Let the children first be fed, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” And he said to her, “For this saying, you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” And she went home and found the child lying in bed, and the demon was gone.

Cross-examining the conversation between Jesus and the woman, we could see that the woman was called a dog, what a test of faith from a master?

If you were the one, what will be your reaction? Then relate your answer to your daily life experiences.

I could conclude that HUMILITY was rooted in that woman, she never pay attention to the insult, and she achieved her aim and purpose.

So, if you want to succeed in life, let not insult be an obstacle for you, rather a stepping stone.

Insulting words are empty gong noise flying in the air, it adds no value to your life but can reduce it if you pay attention to its harmlessness.

Gather the stones of insults thrown at you to build a mansion, and allow those who threw you the stones of insults to rent it from you

Peter Obi is a practical example, uncountable insult aa been thrown at him, but I always see using those insult to build mansion for himself.

Objectively, he is a living saint, an epitome of humility to emulate.

Peace ✌️ be with you.

Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS.