Today is April 3, Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent.
We hear at today’s Mass, “How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?” (Jn 5:44).
Jesus warns us about seeking praise from other people. But why would we seek praise from others in the first place? One of the greatest desires of the human heart is to be known and acknowledged as good. We want to be accepted by others and thereby be affirmed in our identity.
When we are seeking this from other people, it can take a lot of work. Think of the athlete who is trying to impress the coach or the student working extra hard to impress a teacher. Children want to be accepted by their parents. In each of these cases, it takes focus and attention on another person to be accepted and affirmed by them.
Sometimes, this desire goes too far. We become “people pleasers” because we depend on others liking and praising us for our own contentment with who we are. All of our focus is on those around us and what they think of us. Do they think I am praiseworthy? Will they affirm me in my goodness?
Understanding our identity
When we think in this way, we will not believe in the Son. Our focus is so divided among everyone around us as we try to please them that we do not hear the one person who made us good to begin with. From whom else should we seek praise save the one who created man in his own image and likeness and who said it is very good?
The only one who affirms you in who you are is Jesus Christ. He gives you an identity and, in doing so, brings peace to your heart. Many of us have built false identities that need to be torn down. No need to fear: we have these 40 days to do just that. Only when we seek praise from our Father in heaven will we know our own worth and goodness.
Let us pray,
We invoke your mercy in humble prayer, O Lord, that you may cause us, your servants, corrected by penance and schooled by good works, to persevere sincerely in your commands and come safely to the paschal festivities. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
