04122023 – Matthew 28. 9-15a
When the prefix “DIS” is used at the beginning of a word, it means “none” or “not.”
It is considered to be a “negative prefix.”
When we add “DIS” to the beginning of a word, we give it “the opposite meaning.”
I am thinking of a word like to dis- honor, to dis—honor is NOT TO HONOR…it is the opposite of honoring…it is to bring shame and a loss of esteem and a loss of reputation. With any luck, to dishonor brings with it, non-acceptance.
Or we might think of words like dis-grace, dis-credit, dis-parage, and dis-respect. All of these words have negative connotations. You might consider these words to be “insulting.”
Go NEGATIVE.
Go OPPOSITE OF…
Basically, we are talking about DEFAMING, SHAMING, HUMILIATING, VILIFYING, DIMINISHING, or DEMEANING someone…or perhaps a whole group of individuals.
It is an ATTACK on THEM and their CHARACTER.
In an honor and shame society “to bring shame or disrespect” to a person or a group is to increase your own HONOR.
YOU WIN, they lose…
There is, after all only so much HONOR to go around, or so it was believed.
TODAY, we might think of something like “manipulative behavior.” “Manipulative behavior” is used to “GAIN INFLUENCE” over someone else…or over an entire group of people.
Manipulative behaviors likely include things like – LYING, DENYING, passive-aggressive behavior, SILENCING, gaslighting, making ultimatums, causing guilt trips, constantly CRITICIZING, withholding, BLAMING, and getting a person or a group – “outside of their comfort zone,” to give THEMSELVES “a clear advantage.” You “throw them off their game.” You make them UNSTEADY. You make THEM respond to you…
These behaviors are NOTHING NEW. They have been around forever.
We use, whatever it is that works for us…
The thinking is, that by bringing someone else “DOWN,” we bring ourselves “UP!”
We get or receive ANY HONOR that they may have had.
Remember, there is only SO MUCH honor to go around…
So by DISGRACING, DISCREDITING, DISPARAGING, and DISRESPECTING someone else, YOU RECEIVE any and all honor they at one time held or had.
Some people and individuals become MASTERS at this technique.
They seem to “SOAR,” as they bring others around them “DOWN.”
And of course, that is one of their main goals…to bring others CRASHING DOWN and BURNING! You destroy them!
Manipulative behavior can also serve other purposes.
For example, control and manipulation can help or aid the manipulator by RAISING DOUBTS, FEAR, and CONFUSION, it conceals their true intentions and allows them to AVOID responsibility for their behavior or their actions.
BLAME THEM. Blame the other group. It’s not us, it’s them! DEFLECT any and all personal responsibility.
Manipulative behavior is way more common than we realize.
All kinds of people sadly utilize it, in order to “GET THEIR WAY… PREVAIL,” and to ultimately come out on TOP!
And it all started…
After the priests had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a LARGE SUM OF MONEY to the soldiers, telling them, “You MUST SAY, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’
If this comes to the governor’s ears, WE WILL SATISFY HIM and “keep YOU out of TROUBLE.”
So they TOOK THE MONEY and DID as they were directed.
They played along, they joined in the charade.
Plotting, scheming, bribery, all the markings of manipulative behavior. Playing the blame game…
Making others KOWTOW to YOU
Blame others…
Point the finger…at others…
Deflecting all comments…
Doing what YOU NEED TO DO…
Making things happen…YOUR WAY.
YOU CONTROL THE NARRATIVE!
Taking the UPPER HAND…gaining CONTROL of any and all situations, as it were.
Attempting to get “on top of the matter at hand”… and making sure things GO IN YOUR FAVOR. You DIRECT what will be said. You DIRECT what will be done. It is all under YOUR DIRECTION!
You do not want to be put in the position of having to RESPOND to anything…
SPEAK YOUR TRUTH as you believe it to be. Make YOUR message heard. Get it out there. YOU SET THE AGENDA…you do not allow others to SET IT FOR YOU!
You never leave it up to others to form their own opinion. Interpret the facts for them.
THE ONE WHO CONTROLS THE NARRATIVE HAS POWER AND THE ULTIMATE CONTROL OF THE SITUATION.
It is all about your INFLUENCING others…FIRST.
None of this is anything new. It is as old as humankind and one person manipulating another.
The final verse of the gospel says it all:
“And this story is STILL TOLD among the Jews to this day.”
It was all about CONTROLING THE NARRATIVE and the BEHAVIOR that MANIPULATES others.
Amen.