A: 2nd Sun of Adv (8 Dec 2019) - SELF-DISCIPLINE (Mt 3:1-12)

One of the most used psychological tests that are proved to predict efficiently one’s social behavior is the so-called Marshmallow Test. In this activity, the subject (usually children) is put inside a room where a single piece of marshmallow is lying on the table. The subject is given the option to eat and enjoy the sweet right away, or to leave it untouched at the tester’s return receiving another piece as his/her prize for waiting. Those who indulge in the desire of eating are usually found in the future to be less successful in their social lives. In contrast, those who delay gratification are generally more efficient in their careers, human maturity, and social behavior. It is, then, interesting to know the secret of these resilient kids.

In several Youtube videos of these psychological tests, it is observable that those who ate immediately were staring at their marshmallows long enough to the point that they easily succumbed to the temptation to gobble. Meanwhile, those who didn’t eat were distracting themselves from looking at these delicacies: viz., they focused their attention on other parts of the room, played some drum beats, or did other activities that would busy their minds. Not doing otherwise, most probably, they may likewise fall into the trap of swallowing the delicious-looking food. The key, then, for winning over human pleasures is by retreating and refraining from fighting them mano-a-mano. Most of the times, we would fail, since our opponent is none other than the devil himself who is very canny and the master of all deceits.

Our gospel today presents the figure of John the Baptist who proclaimed the universal call for repentance and renewal (Mt 3:2, 8, 11). He spoke with credibility because he would walk his talk. His preaching was backed up by his austere life: living in the desert (v. 1), donning a camel-hair, eating locusts and wild honey (v. 4), and distancing himself from the lure of human passions. Indeed, his fuga mundi(i.e., “flight from the world”) mentality was his way of conquering enticements to be materialistic and power-hungry which he observed as consuming the minds of the Pharisees and Sadducees (vv. 7-10). It should be stressed, however, that he did not advocate that the world is evil; rather, his life of hermitage was his demonstration that the pull of the physical world is so strong that ordinary human beings like us are very weak not to fall easily into it. Thus, next to prayer and reliance on God’s grace, a decisive discipline imposed on the self remains to be the most feasible way of winning over temptations.

Such goes the same for the Blessed Virgin Mary whose solemnity as the Immaculate Conception we do celebrate also today. This mystery tells us that she was conceived without original sin from the moment of her conception. Yet, it is not only this fact that should be lauded. More than this divine gift is her ability to conquer earthly temptations as she never gave up following Jesus despite the persecutions received. She stood by her side, even if she would be hurt, too, along the way. Her life of humility, simplicity, and endurance allowed her to remain sinless. Certainly, the prophesy in Gen 3:15 was found true in her: “I will put enmity between you [serpent] and the woman… will strike your head, and you will strike the heel.”

As we continue our Advent reflection that challenges us all to repent and resist all attractions to worldly pleasures, may we learn from the examples of both John the Baptist and our Mother Mary, who were able to show us a concrete way to sanctity. The important thing to remember in their lives is that they didn’t allow their eyes to gaze for a long time at the object of temptation. Likewise, we are challenged to discipline, too, our senses by not being frenzied to indulge wantonly on many mundane marshmallows. We are, nonetheless, assured that, at our Master’s return, greater and more abundant gifts do await for those who persevered to be holy.

- Rex Fortes, CM