In a world where the pursuit of success reigns supreme, it seems we have forgotten the timeless wisdom of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who boldly proclaimed, “We are not called to be successful but to be faithful.” This aphorism, however, seems lost on the politicians, business moguls, spiritual leaders, students, and parents of today. They are hell-bent on climbing the rungs of worldly success, each step laden with the broken backs of those who unwittingly support their lofty aspirations.
Politicians, our dear servants of the public, who once promised to serve, now serve themselves sumptuous feasts of power and wealth. They strive for notoriety, their bank accounts swollen with the currency of deceit. One wonders if they read Matthew 23:12, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Alas, humility is but a forgotten relic in their lexicon.
Businesspeople, the modern-day Midas touch seekers, feverishly amass fortunes. Their profit margins swell as they expand their empires, oblivious to the carcasses of small businesses crushed under the weight of their ambition. One cannot help but recall the words of Saint Augustine, “God is always trying to give good things to us, but our hands are too full to receive them.” Yet, our hands remain tightly clenched around the gold we covet.
And what of our spiritual guides? The shepherds of the faithful flock seem more interested in the weight of their coffers than the weight of their souls. Mega-church pastors boast congregations the size of small nations; their offertory baskets overflow with the fruits of their followers’ labour. Catholic priests, religious sisters, and brothers vie for the latest iPhone and luxurious cars, a direct contradiction to the simplicity of Christ. They forget the solemn warning in 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” Their pursuit of success renders their faithfulness a mere afterthought.
Students, our future leaders and innovators, are driven by the unrelenting pressure to succeed academically. The stress of achieving the highest grades and securing the most lucrative careers drives them to the brink of despair. They forget the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” Success in studies is but a fleeting shadow compared to the light of a faithful heart.
Parents, the role models for the next generation, strive to exhibit an ideal image of success. Their lives become a showpiece of achievements and accolades, leaving little room for the humility and service they are called to exemplify. Proverbs 22:6 urges, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Yet, the way they train often leads to a hollow pursuit of success rather than a faithful life of service.
In this existential circus, where the quest for success takes centre stage, the lowly individuals in society bear the brunt. The labourers, the marginalised, the oppressed – they toil tirelessly, their efforts underpinning the success of the privileged few. This is the true tragedy. Have we forgotten the essence of brotherhood and sisterhood, the call to be faithful to the one Master who has generously given us life?
As we ponder this existential conundrum, let us not forget the wisdom of the philosophers who have trodden this path before us. Søren Kierkegaard, the father of existentialism, reminds us, “Life can only be understood backwards,but it must be lived forwards.” Reflecting on our current state of affairs, it becomes painfully clear that our forward march towards success is leading us backwards in faithfulness.
With his existential angst, Jean-Paul Sartre might argue that our relentless pursuit of success is our attempt to escape the inherent meaninglessness of life. But what if, in our pursuit, we are only digging deeper into the void? Perhaps faithfulness, not success, is the anchor that prevents us from drifting into existential despair.
Albert Camus, ever the absurdist, might laugh at our folly. Success, in the grand scheme of the absurd, is but a fleeting illusion. In “The Myth of Sisyphus,” Camus presents the image of Sisyphus, eternally pushing a boulder up a hill, only for it to roll back down each time. Our pursuit of success is much the same – an endless cycle with no lasting fulfilment. On the other hand, faithfulness offers a glimpse of meaning in the absurdity of existence.
In the spirit of satire, let us not forget Oscar Wilde’s poignant words: “Success is a science; if you have the conditions, you get the result.” But in the science of faithfulness, the conditions are simple:love, humility, service. The result? A life well-lived, a soul at peace.
And so, dear reader, as we traverse the journey called life, let us remember that success, as defined by the world, is but a mirage. The true oasis lies in faithfulness – to our values, each other, and the divine call within us. As Mother Teresa so wisely pointed out, we are not called to be successful but to be faithful.
In closing, let us heed the advice of Pope Francis, who decries materialism and status-seeking in the Church. His call to simplicity, to a life of humble service, echoes the teachings of Christ himself. “The Lord does not care about our success, but about our faithfulness,” Pope Francis reminds us. In a world obsessed with success, may we find the courage to be faithfully counter-cultural.
As we strive to be faithful in our unique callings, let us extend a hand to those around us. Let us uplift the lowly, support the downtrodden, and be a beacon of hope in a world darkened by the shadows of success. In the end, our successes will not define us, but our faithfulness to the one who calls us beloved.
