One reality in life is that, for most of us, we come to this world and go from this world without the rest of the world ever noticing us. Not many of us can become rich, popular, powerful or famous; and even if we do become rich, popular, powerful or famous, such things are only temporary. Though we try to make a name for ourselves, to desire for attention, to bask in the limelight or to be just famous and popular; all these things will one day wane or be lost.
In today’s reading, we are challenged with a question: what is there to boast about? The reading reminds us: “it was to shame the wise that God chose what is foolish by human reckoning, and to shame what is strong that he chose what is weak by human reckoning; those whom the world thinks common and contemptible are the ones that God has chosen – those who are nothing at all to show up those who are everything. The human race has nothing to boast about to God… As scripture says: if anyone wants to boast, let him boast about the Lord.”
What does this mean to us? It means we must never allow ourselves to be seduced by riches, popularity, power or fame, and become proud, egoistic and conceited, since all these things won’t last. God could take these things away from us just as easily as these things were given to us. How we stand before people is not as important as how we stand before God. May we learn to remain humble and docile, and for whatever good we do, let us give thanks and praise the Lord.