Posted by The WORD in other words (2016) by Fr. Glenn Paul Gomez, SVD – Divine Word College of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro
Monday 3rd Week of Easter
Abraham Maslow, the Father of Humanistic Psychology, was the proponent of Hierarchy of Human Needs. He categorized them into five (5), namely: Physiological, Safety, Belonging, Esteem and Self-actualization.
Maslow realized too that fulfilling human needs is not enough because humans have insatiable needs! What is truly needed if one wants to grow? Self-transcendence! Constant fulfilling of one’s needs without making sacrifices could lead to selfishness.
These basic needs and self-transcendence correspond to the four (4) major aspects of human persons: 1. Physical (Physiological & Safety); 2. Emotional (Belonging); 3. Mental (Esteem & Self-actualization); and 4. Spiritual (Self-transcendence).
The physical, the visible or seen aspect, comprises only ¼, while, the invisible and the unseen aspects – emotional, mental and spiritual –comprise ¾!
This shows that the majority of human aspects are not-seen or we might call “spiritual”. The Gospel for today should be understood from this perspective.
Jesus reminded the people: “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” Going beyond the material food, Jesus is offering spiritual food which could transport humans to eternal life.
Needless to say, material food perishes; only spiritual food lasts. Do we want to gain eternal life? Transcend! Go beyond material-physical needs!
Let the words of Jesus be our guide here on earth: “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”
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