Some would say that selfishness is a necessary human characteristic
others would say that it is a destructive attribute.
The "necessary human characteristic" argument
says we need to be able to survive
and so we should be able to feel free to assert our own need
and to look after our own interests.
This bland sort of statement is rather deceptive
because what is the problem
with selfishness
is not, so much, the looking after one's own interests
but rather the fact that most selfishness
looks after one's own interests at the expense of other people.
When, at baptism, people are invited to reject selfishness
we are moving beyond the repentance of things we have done wrong
saying sorry, making restitution and so on....
to actually taking positive steps to live our lives in a way
that is counter cultural.
We are being asked to move beyond
the idea that we need to be able to look after our own self-interests in order to survive
to saying that we also choose a way of life
that is more than just pursuit of self-interest.
How, we might ask, are we to do this?
The Baptismal Liturgy for Children addresses this several times
the sponsors/godparents are asked if they are prepared to show those they are sponsoring how to live the unselfish life.
This is an important point to grasp
unselfishness can be taught....or perhaps caught.
We catch it from others who set us the example
of what might be possible if we choose to live our lives differently.
This is clearly demonstrated for Christians on the Cross.
Apart from what ever mystical and theological process may be taking place
there is something being lived out.
It is that we are unselfish when we give, not only of our stuff
but also of our life.
Jesus says, greater love has no one than this
that they lay down their lives for their friend
This is most unusual in our self-oriented world.
A couple of points
The readings point us to a number of interesting points
1. In the confusion that is the time in the wilderness after the flight from Egypt, the people of Israel constantly miss the point of their call.
Why? Because, as in today's reading, they find it very difficult to get beyond their own very narrow selfish interests.
God responds to their needs time and time again
but the more they get the more they want
and the more they seem unresponsive and ungrateful for what has already been done for them.
The writers of the the Torah are setting before us a picture of wayward selfishness
which is at odds with the will fo God.
2. Paul in writing to the Roman Church urges these people on to do better than mere selfish desires.
Look to greater goals and the bigger picture. Understand at the very least that there is a challenge which will improve us as people: Paul outlines (perhaps a little too strictly) a growth process...
we also boast in our sufferings, knowing
that suffering produces endurance,
5:4 and endurance produces character, and
character produces hope,
suffering-endurance-character-hope.
His argument suggests that unselfishness opens up
a whole new range of possibility.
3. And what of this woman who meets Jesus. This is a most fascinating story.
She wants more out of life...Lord satisfy my deepest thirst
Jesus immediately points her to the area of her life where her own inward looking orientation
has betrayed her deepest integrity.
Your human relationships are up the creek
Who knows quite what a mess this woman who had had five husbands had made of her life, and why?
There is at least the suggestion that unless we are prepared to plummet the darkness of our true desires and not avoid what our lives are saying to us,
in their messiness, selfishness and deep desire
then our deep thirst will not be satisfied.
THIS WEEK
Where does God invite you to be unselfish?
is there something immediately that you can do to challenge your selfishness, what stops you?
What do you really want? What would satisfy your deepest desires?
What is the mess of your life saying to you about what you really want?
There are lots of reflections to have about "comfort zones", about whether or not we want to change. Spend some time with God talking about this.
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