Gospel Reflection - Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Refusing Toxicity

Let’s go back to Adam and Eve, which represents humanity becoming aware of its freedom. Becoming aware of their freedom also let them become aware that they are not God. This awareness gave birth to the idea of wanting to be God. Wanting to be God is trying to make oneself the measure of all things and the center of the universe. However, man is not the measure of all things, nor is he the center of the universe. This leads to toxicity.

God is the measure of all things. God is the center of the universe. Trying to make oneself God creates an imbalance and disharmony within the human person and in the world, because this is not the way things are supposed to be. This is what we call toxicity.

The Fruits of Refusal

Refusing to acknowledge God’s rightful place as the center and measure of all things leads to several negative consequences. Some of these consequences include:

Suffering - When we try to make ourselves the center of the universe, we are bound to suffer. This is because we are not made to be the center of the universe, and trying to be something we are not will always lead to pain.
Division - When we try to make ourselves the measure of all things, we create division. This is because we are all different, and each of us has our own unique perspective on the world. When we try to impose our own perspective on others, it creates conflict.
Death - When we try to make ourselves the center of the universe, we are ultimately choosing death. This is because we are choosing to live a life that is not in harmony with the way things are supposed to be.