The modern-day successors of King Herod | The Manila Times

THE birth of Jesus of Nazareth and the values that he taught and lived for are overshadowed today by the continuous spread of materialism. This philosophy is driven by the desire of many people to be rich with money, property, political and economic power, and to control people. This excessive possessiveness for personal satisfaction, pleasure or self-gratification becomes the goal of their lives. It leads many to commit crimes against people, especially women and children.

Throughout history when Jesus of Nazareth lived, materialism dominated civil and religious groups as it does today. Very few believed in a spiritual dimension to human life or of life after death. Ownership of wealth was the measure of the value of a human person. Poverty was an indication of worthlessness, and such poor people were considered to be garbage, throwaway people and disposable. Women and children had no status in society at that time and for centuries after, not because they were insignificant in themselves — they were essential for the human species to continue — but because they had no possessions and were not allowed to have any. Much has changed today for the better but more needs to come.