“KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT”

When I reflected on the readings today, the following Philosophers pop out in my mind as if wanting to be given attention to. I searched the internet and I got the following articles.
The saying "Know thyself" may refer by extension to the ideal of understanding human behavior, morals, and thought, because ultimately to understand oneself is to understand other humans as well. However, the ancient Greek philosophers thought that no man can ever comprehend the human spirit and thought thoroughly, so it would have been almost inconceivable to know oneself fully. Therefore, the saying may refer to a less ambitious ideal, such as knowing one's own habits, morals, temperament, ability to control anger, and other aspects of human behavior that we struggle with on a daily basis.
Socrates was one of the first Greek philosophers to encourage both scholars and the common citizen to turn their attention from the outside world to the condition of man. In this view, Knowledge having a bearing on human life was placed highest, all other knowledge being secondary. Self-knowledge was considered necessary for success and inherently an essential good. A self-aware person will act completely within their capabilities to their pinnacle, while an ignorant person will flounder and encounter difficulty. To Socrates, a person must become aware of every fact (and its context) relevant to his existence, if he wishes to attain self-knowledge. He posited that people will naturally do what is good, if they know what is right. Evil or bad actions, are the result of ignorance. If a criminal were truly aware of the mental and spiritual consequences of his actions, he would neither commit nor even consider committing them. Any person who knows what is truly right will automatically do it, according to Socrates. While he correlated knowledge with virtue, he similarly equated virtue with happiness. The truly wise man will know what is right, do what is good and therefore be happy.[2]
Aristotle posited an ethical system that may be termed "self-realizationism". In Aristotle's view, when a person acts in accordance with his nature and realizes his full potential, he will do good and be content. At birth, a baby is not a person, but a potential person. In order to become a "real" person, the child's inherent potential must be realized. Unhappiness and frustration are caused by the unrealized potential of a person, leading to failed goals and a poor life. Aristotle said, "Nature does nothing in vain." Therefore, it is imperative for persons to act in accordance with their nature and develop their latent talents, in order to be content and complete. Happiness was held to be the ultimate goal. All other things, such as civic life or wealth, are merely means to the end. Self-realization, the awareness of one's nature and the development of one's talents, is the surest path to happiness.[3]
It is interesting to have a quick review of some great philosophers’ view on “know thyself”. Moreover, even until now, in personal development, emphasis on knowing oneself is always the key to maturity.
However, what is good news in the Gospel today helped me look at what is attainable. We all know that we cannot really fully know ourselves. Whatever we do we just cannot and that is the truth of life. Others would even call life as a mystery because of this fact. That’s why it is wise thing maybe to know more of what we are not. John the Baptist in our gospel today knew himself well by knowing what he is not.
He was asked who he was, and he answers in triple negation. “I am not the Christ”, “I am not” and “No”.
It is logical of course to think that he has to answer in the negative because the questions can be answered only by yes or no. I think this is the key in understanding John. John knew himself very well that he immediately answered them what he is not. Those who does not him/herself may answer yes I suppose.
In our world today there are so many things that we can say “No” but do not say it. I think many of us are still in denial or still suffering an identity crisis.
In the Philippines, there are many things which are happening because of the failure to say “I am not Christ”, “I am not”, and “No”.
Filipinos elected public officials not because of their capacity to lead but because they are made to believe that these politicians can save them. Worst, some politicians seems to really believe that they are the savior. They do many things to secure a seat in the government because of too much belief of themselves “bilib sa sarili”. Goons, Guns, Vote buying, “dag-dag bawas” and the like are rampant before, during and after election time. Many are running because many think that they are the answer to the nation’s woes. After how many years, this is what we got from our public officials the so called “savior”.
It is no wonder why many Filipinos are tired of rallying behind truth, justice, transparency simply because the fire seemed to be extinguished by massive corruption. They would rather do things in their own. Kanya-kanya na lang. This is also what the politicians want. They can do whatever they want, when every Filipino will be tired of politics. More human rights violations as product of arrogance and ignorance are committed. They are trying to kill the Spirit of the Filipino people. Many Filipinos do not know they rights, and they are being taken advantaged by most blood thirsty officials.
John was trying to show us that we should not pretend who we are not. John can easily make himself Christ because of his many followers. But John did not do it because he was well aware who he was. Many elected officials think they can do everything because of where they are now. They forgot who they really are. Now, “servants of the nation” is a wrong description. They are not servants, but looking at every Filipino as servants. Filipinos are there to serve their interests. The recent resolution about CARP is a CRAP. Who would every think that these congressmen and congresswomen elected to uphold the constitution were the first ones to trample on it. Well maybe only in the Philippines. I can hear the cries of the farmers in the desert.
It is therefore a lesson to each and every one of us. Many people forget what our gospel today is all about. We are not Christ, we cannot be Christ but like John, we can be a good follower of Christ. John was willing to give himself for Christ because he knows himself and I quote, ““I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’. It is enough for him to know that truth and offer his life for that truth. We can only be a voice of one crying out in the desert”. The Lord and not John is crying out to make straight our path. The Lord cries through the voice of John. Can we be the voice of the Lord in the deserted Philippines? Can we make the path straight for the Lord? It is not easy, because in the Philippines when you voice out, you will be silenced or killed. But it is maybe better to be killed being the voice of the Lord, than to live and pretend that we are the savior of the Philippines.
May God continually bless and strengthened those who followed John’s disposition. And may this tribe increase in the Philippines. May we cry out more when they want to silence us, because we know who we are not.
A progressive new year to all of us.