Vanity not Modesty

Last week’s Shalom was titled, “To dialogue is to be human”. This was the conclusion of quite a long narrative about talking to people of different cultures, races and religions. I did not explain my encounters with a cardinal, several bishops, priests, consecrated persons, Muslim ulama, Protestant pastors and government officials.

Looking back I felt that it could be branded as a form of vanity on my part to inform my readers that I was in Nigeria, Vietnam and Northern Mindanao within the span of 15 days. It was indeed a fact. I was really there. But without explaining why I was there and how the humane dialogue was carried out would be easily understood as a vain bragging of a jet setter especially at my age of 84 coming up this November. I was really putting aside the virtue of modesty and humility.

What really prompted me to write that not-well-thought-article was to tell my friends that I did not go on vacation when they did not see me at St. Francis parish, San Pedro Cathedral and Sta. Ana parish on weekends.

I am sorry if vanity appeared more than modesty in that Shalom piece.