Fr. Manuel M. Flores, SJ
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 20, 2015
In 1974 I watched an Ateneo – La Salle game at the Araneta Coliseum, where the great La Salle player Lim Eng Beng as usual scored more than 30 points. After the game I and a co-Lasallite almost got beaten up by around 10 Ateneans. Why did the Ateneans want to rearrange our faces?
Because we both wore La Salle T-shirts on which was boldly printed “We’re No. 1”
The desire for esteem, to be number one, is normal and natural. It is fourth ranking need in Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of five human needs. We all have the need for self-esteem; for achievement, mastery, dominance, prestige, responsibility, etc. We are all like the apostles who were arguing about who is the greatest among them.
Jesus who experienced all our human needs does not stop us nor the apostles from pursuing our need for esteem. Instead what he does is to ask us to pursue the greatness that really matters: greatness in the eyes of God. The one who is great in God’s eyes is the servant not the master, not the adult but the child.
Jesus asks us to pursue an even greater greatness than what the world admires. We find this very much in Ignatius. From distinguishing himself in the service of an earthly king, Jesus leads Ignatius to the service of the King of the universe and the Lord of history. From earthy glory Jesus leads Ignatius to pursue the eternal unfading glory of God.
Lim Eng Beng whom I watched that day as he led La Salle to a second championship is arguably the greatest Philippine collegiate basketball player ever. Both his record of a season average of 32 points per game, and his record of 55 points for a single game remain unbroken in both the NCAA and the UAAP. And he did this is at a time when there were no three point shots! It is claimed that he never missed a single foul shot during his 4 years in La Salle. He also broke the long monopoly of Crispa and Toyota on the PBA championship leading his team UTEX to two PBA championships. This led Jaworski to have an enduring special dislike for him.
And yet today Lim Eng Beng is virtually unknown among the young and his achievements forgotten. And one day someone may eventually break his collegiate basketball records.
But God gives you and me an opportunity for unfading greatness even beyond Lim Eng Bengs!
Jesus teaches that if we seek to be servants and possess the humility of a child, we will be the greatest in the kingdom of God. This is a long and painful path that few ever choose. But if we take it we shall indeed achieve a greatness that will endure for eternity. (Whether or not we come from Ateneo or La Salle).