It is not good to classify people. On the other hand, classifying people can help us understand people’s behavior. There are different ways of classifying people, understanding human behavior.
One style is to classify them according to how they enter a room. One type of people, when they enter a room, they say, “I am here.” This is the type of person who calls attention to himself or herself. This is the type of persons who cannot tolerate being unnoticed. These people are those who enjoy being the focal point of attention, who enjoy being the life of the party.
The second type of person who enters the room is the one who enters the room full of people and enters as if nobody is there. He will not greet anybody. He will just take a seat and do what he is supposed to do, mindless of the presence of others. In Tagalog, ni ha, ni ho, ni good morning, good afternoon, nothing. He just enters the room and does what he wants to do and forgets about everything, everybody in the room.
The third type of person who enters the room is this person who says, “Ah, you are there.” This one enters the room and says, “Ah, you are there and I am happy to see you in the room. I am happy to greet you in the room. I am happy that you are ahead of me.”
There are different types or styles of entering a room. One is to call attention to yourself. Another one is to ignore everybody. The third one is the type that gives importance to everybody who is in the room, and says “Ah, you are here.” The “ah, you are here” people are like Mary.
Mary was carrying God in her womb. If you noticed, as soon as Mary and Elizabeth met each other, who greeted first? Mary. In spite of her stature, in spite of her dignity that she is now the mother of God, that the angel had appeared to her, it was Mary who greeted first and Elizabeth said, “The moment your greeting sounded in my ear, my baby jumped for joy.” Such humility, such simplicity, such care for others – That is Mary.
It will be Christmas in a few days (months) and I whisper to God a prayer that we may find in our hearts to always look for God in everybody. Entering a room, entering a Church, we will not ignore God present there. Entering a room, entering a Church, may we recognize God present in everybody. May we be the third type of person, the “ah, you are here.” So let us greet one another as if the Lord has visited us, like Elizabeth.
YOU ARE THERE!
Lk. 1:39-45
Love Like Jesus
