THROUGH UNTRUE
People who are aggressive and obsessed with success are often labeled as “ambitious.” However, ambition itself is inherently good. It drives us to dream big and realize our potential by pushing boundaries and exploring new possibilities.
Many famous people in history who have fulfilled their ambitions — whether in career advancement, wealth, fame, power, or advocacy — are considered models of success and personal achievement. Yet among them are those who have experienced intense existential crises precisely because of their success. They exemplify the truth of the saying: “Nothing fails like success.”
Success can be frustrating, particularly because it engenders the pervasive feeling that we have not achieved enough. We feel something is still missing, leading us to crave more, do more, and have more. This nagging discontent explains why successful people turn their back on everything they once held dear to pursue a more spiritual goal. They realize that worldly success and adulation cannot fully satisfy our longing for lasting happiness, joy, and peace. Only God can. St. Augustine encapsulated this sentiment when he wrote: “You have made us for yourself, O, Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”
Sadly, many people believe that such restlessness is fueled by our ambition for greatness according to worldly standards. Yet, in today’s Gospel reading, Jesus states: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43-45).
Being a servant is not something we would normally dream of. So, instead of aspiring to emulate Jesus in selfless service, we often align ourselves with contemporary leaders whose thinking and behavior are driven by the logic of domination and control. We mistakenly equate success with playing God, only to realize too late the consequences of this distorted ambition.
For instance, we envision a brave new world where individuals are immune to all physical and psychological ailments. However, in their attempts to play God, many scientists disregard the moral limits of human experimentation, leading to “cures” that result in even more serious diseases. Furthermore, our desire to enhance human connectivity has given rise to a network of virtual communication that trivializes language and commodifies meaning and values, making genuine communication increasingly difficult.
Max Scheler once wrote that when we attempt to control and manipulate everything according to our selfish interests, we ultimately destroy or, at least, damage ourselves. When we play God, we do not become like God; we become inhuman.
In our local context, one of the most evident arenas for playing God is politics, especially during elections. Although most politicians often parrot the phrase “serving our constituents,” it is typically their ambition for power, wealth, and influence that shapes their behavior, strategies, and the dynamics of the electoral process. Glenn May’s study of local elections during the Spanish period revealed that the motivations of those seeking public office have not changed significantly over time. Even today, politicians generally do not aim to serve the people. Instead, they use the government for their selfish interests.
No wonder there is a growing outcry for NoEl (No Election) today. The underlying logic is clear: Why should there be another election when the choices are limited to candidates whom we do not want to win? When voters see that candidates are more interested in winning or maintaining their positions over genuine public service, the result is voter indifference or even apathy.
Hopefully, government agencies entrusted with the electoral process would create a more transparent, accountable, and responsive political environment, where the ultimate goal remains the betterment of society rather than the mere acquisition of power.