CONCEPT OF RESISTANCE

Counselors are familiar with the concept of resistance. Basically, it is some kind of a refusal to be helped, a rejection of the very person or process that could help him get out of the doldrums. While getting around it or working through it is very difficult, both counselor and counselee would be well advised not to disregard it, if progress is to be made.

       The "Parable of the Tenants" (Mark 12:1-12) reminds me precisely of this — our natural tendency to bite the hand that feeds us, and to refuse or reject that which precisely we need to grow. The Jewish leaders then were no exception to this. They saw the great deeds that Jesus was doing. They were aware of the signs He was performing. They were conscious of the fact that crowds were following Him everywhere. But seeing is not acknowledging. Knowing does not necessarily lead to accepting; and not even great and wondrous deeds are enough to convince people who have already decided not to believe.

       We know what this is about. It is all about emotion affecting cognition. It is all about bias affecting objective thinking. This is also a desire to protect one’s turf and maintain the status quo, preventing one from acknowledging objective truth that often stares us in the face.

       It is also known as confirmation bias. All it takes is to decide in favor of a position, and one sees everything as proof for that position, including the very things that objectively disproves one’s position. It is plain and simple rejection!

       This is what the Jewish leaders did. This, too, is what we do when it comes to difficult and what we refer to as “contentious” and “debatable” topics that affect us very deeply. But while Jesus was rejected wholely and entirely by the leaders of the Jews then, we do it now more in style. We don’t flatly reject the Lord. We just reject or refuse facets of His teachings, or bite the holy hand that feeds us. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

DO NOT BE ANXIOUS

Do not be anxious, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?'

For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.

-- Matthew 6: 31 - 34

Spiritual Pride

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others:

"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, `God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.'

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, `God, be merciful to me a sinner!'

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." -- Luke 18: 9 - 14

"I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, 

the knowledge of God, rather than burnt offerings."

Hosea 6:6

How to get Well

Walk in all the way that God commands
"Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you." -- Jeremiah 7:23

Sin No More
"See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you." -- John 5:14