[stephenkhoo]

POWER CORRUPTS
The most famous quote by Lord Acton is this, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority; still more when you superadd the tendency of the certainty of corruption by authority.” How true these words are! We see this in the history of humanity, in religion, politics and business. Human beings are weak and they will be tempted to use their power for themselves and serve their interests when there are no checks and balances. Indeed, very often power is desired only because it can be used to control people and use them to serve one’s interests. Power is often used to satisfy the lust and greed of the powerful. That is why many people in the world desire power.

What is frightening is that the more powerful one is, the greater the temptation to abuse one’s power for himself or herself. This was what happened to the corrupt judges in the first reading. Two elderly men, unworthy as they were, were appointed to be judges. These judges were not concerned with justice for the people but they used their power to satisfy their desires. So much so, the Lord said, “Wickedness has come to Babylon through the elders and judges posing as guides to the people.” Both men lusted after Susanna because she was “a woman of great beauty.” They tried to get her to sleep with them. When she refused, in order to protect themselves in case Susanna reported them, they accused her of committing adultery with another man. She was falsely accused before judges and the elders. Since those accusing her were judges themselves, they were supposedly trustworthy and credible. The rest of the judges and the people bought their story without questioning and condemned Susanna to death without a proper investigation.

Indeed, the injustice done to Susanna by the conspiracy of powerful people is perpetuated in our times. Often, the rich and the powerful silence their subordinates from reporting the truth, either by using bribery or by threats to their lives or dismissal from their jobs. Otherwise, they secure the best lawyers to fight their case or buy over influential people to support them, including the media. More often than not, those who are weak, or are dependent on their superiors for survival, would collaborate with them in their injustices. This is the sad reality of life. This happens not just in the corporate and political world, but even in religion. The corruption in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church shows that not even so-called religious people are exempted from the temptations of the Evil One to use power for sex, money and self-interests.

This is where, more than ever, proper governance and accountability is necessary. We cannot trust human beings, for this is what the bible says: “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in mortals. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.” (Ps 118:8f) Jeremiah said, “Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the Lord.” (Jer 17:5) The truth is that man, being man, is a fallen creature. Because of original sin, we suffer from darkness of the intellect and the weakness of the will. Our sinful nature will blind us to the truth of what we do. Indeed, Jeremiah said, “The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse – who can understand it? I the Lord test the mind and search the heart, to give to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their doings.” (Jer 17:9f) Indeed, we are blinded by our own weaknesses, especially when decisions involved concern our loved ones. Hence Jesus said, “Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye?”

That is why the scriptures speak of the need to have proper witnesses. “A single witness shall not suffice to convict a person of any crime or wrongdoing in connection with any offense that may be committed. Only on the evidence of two or three witnesses shall a charge be sustained.” (Dt 19:15) Even in the New Testament, the Lord advised the people, “If you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.” (Mt 18:16) In the case of Susanna, they had two witnesses but they colluded with each other. This is why it is better to have three witnesses. Today, we speak of a tribunal that consists of three judges in order to show impartiality.

However, having witnesses is still not enough. The truth is that using reason alone, we might not be able to see the truth of the matter because of our ignorance. Today, the so-called intellectuals of the world are proposing laws that contradict the conscience and basic reasoning of any ordinary man. They use words and arguments to convince the world that abortion and euthanasia are not killing, or that same-sex union is part of nature, or that the family is no longer defined as a man and a woman with children. This is what St Paul wrote to the Romans. “For though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools; and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling a mortal human being or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.” (Rom 1:21-23)

If we seek to be true judges exercising our authority and power in a fair, impartial, just and wise manner, we should first come to the Lord who is the Light of the World. We read “Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak, he appeared in the Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began to teach them. Jesus said to the people: I am the light of the world; anyone who follows me will not be walking in the dark; he will have the light of life.'” The evangelist plays on the words, “darkness and light” and “I am.” In the mind of St John, Jesus who is the “I Am” is identified with God who revealed Himself to Moses, as “I am who am”. Jesus as the Light of the World, therefore, is the One who can show us the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is the One that comes to enlighten all men in the truth. And Jesus does it not simply by His words but by His very life. “What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (Jn 1:3-5)

Unfortunately, many of us do not know Him. This is not surprising. If our values and that of the gospel contradict the values of the world today it is because as Jesus said, “You do not know me, nor do you know my Father; if you did know me, you would know my Father as well.” The world does not believe in God but only in themselves. Man has supplanted the place of God in the world and has made himself the new god of truth based on his so-called human reasoning. However, Jesus has this to say to the world. “You judge by human standards; I judge no one, but if I judge, my judgement will be sound, because I am not alone: the one who sent me is with me; and in your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. I may be testifying on my own behalf, but the father who sent me is my witness too.” By His death and resurrection, the Father endorsed all that Jesus said and did, and that He is truly the Son of God, the Light of the World.

Consequently, as leaders, we must turn to Him for light and wisdom in our governance so that we will not deceive ourselves or the world in judging situations. We bear in mind the exhortation of St Paul, “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.” Leaders who do not pray every day as Jesus did, or read the Word of God, are not fit to lead the people of God because they will depend on human reasoning alone and they are often misguided because they are not conscious of their real desires in their hearts. We must be like Daniel, a man of God, in touch with the Spirit of God and acts with justice and wisdom.