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Then an argument broke out
among them about which of them should be regarded as the greatest. He said to them, “The kings of the
Gentiles
lord it over them and those in authority over them are addressed as
‘Benefactors’; but among you it shall not be so. Rather, let the greatest among you be as the
youngest, and the leader as the servant. For
who is greater: the one seated at table or the one who serves? Is it not the one seated at table? I
am among you as the one who serves.”
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In
the movie "Star Wars: Episode I—The Phantom Menace," the Trade
Federation’s desire to
prevent the nation of Naboo from any trade was the result of an insane
desire
for power and control. The people of
Naboo had done nothing wrong; they were simply in the way of what the
Federation wanted. Evil wanted what it
wanted, and there was nothing else to consider.
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What is the essence of
evil? How does one become evil? Once a person has chosen to
accept evil, is
there any hope of recovery? The "Star
Wars" movies and in particular, "Star Wars: Episode I—The Phantom
Menace" bring
about such questions. The essence of
evil seems to be nothing more than selfishness. The Evil desires
only what it wants with no regard for anything else.
Perhaps the cause of evil is the lack of the formation of conscience in an individual. The education of conscience is indispensable for human beings who are subject to negative influence and tempted to prefer their own judgment and to reject authoritative teachings. The person who is prone to prefer one’s own desires at all times, that is, the selfish person, will choose only what pleases him/her, and have no concern for authority or the common good. The Scriptures seem to understand that selfishness is among the causes of the destruction of good in the world. Hearing what the Apostles were talking about at the Last Supper, after he had instituted the Eucharist, Jesus reminds them that selfishness is the destruction of spirituality. "Among you," he tells them, "it shall not be so." Our world may not be as evil as the minds of those who governed the Federation in the Star War movies, but human beings are responsible for lesser evils, and more often than not, those human beings are governed simply by what they want for themselves with no regard for others. |
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THOUGHT
Where
do you see evil portrayed in the world around you right now?
PRAYER Good and gracious God, it
is an undeniable fact
that we human beings have brought about evil, and in fact, continue to
initiate
evil. Help us see that there may be evil
in our own lives, and assist us as we decide to do something about it. Be with us, we pray.
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©2007
Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America |
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