THE BEST MAN
“The one who has the bride is the bridegroom;the best man, who stands and listens for him,rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice.So this joy of mine has been made complete.He must increase; I must decrease.” - Jn. 3:22-30
My wife has been frustrated with completing her teaching credentials after working several years as a teacher in the Philippines. When we decided to get married after years of being in a long distance relationship, she knew she needed to make adjustments professionally before she can teach Special Education again. For the past 2.5 years, she has worked multiple part-time jobs while taking online classes and licensure exams in order to be fully accredited. Not to mention, this is all while she lived thousands of miles away from her immediate family.
While I anticipated that her transition would be difficult, it wasn’t until I started really listening that I understood her feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. When my entire family moved to the US, I realized that I didn’t have to feel homesick as much because at least we were all together. I also didn’t experience leaving my established career behind and starting over again.
As her friend, I constantly reminded her that someone’s value is not only measured by their professional success but by their character when things don’t go their way. As her husband, not only did I grow to appreciate her resilience but I learned how to focus on our goals together without comparing ourselves to other people.
John’s humility and self-assuredness in today’s Gospel really struck a chord with me because he was someone that people listened and looked up to before Jesus’s arrival. While he always preached about preparing the way of the Lord, he never showed jealousy or pride once Jesus started attracting more followers. In fact, he said himself that he is like a best man who rejoiced and stood up for the groom. To be so sure of his own purpose in life and be Jesus’s greatest supporter when he began his ministry, this feeling of genuine joy and acceptance is something that I aspire to in my own marriage and personal life.
“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12
Lord, remind us of your presence whenever we don’t feel good enough or loved enough. Help us focus on our own calling so we can continue to serve you and the people around us to the best of our ability.
Alfred Dicioco