We need some forcefulness

NOT violence, not obsession, but a certain forcefulness that helps us to grow properly and care for one another. That´s what we need. This is clear in our human and natural conditions, both in our personal and social aspects. And if we have to consider our ultimate supernatural goal, then this forcefulness becomes even more necessary.

Remember that gospel parable about a man who invited guests to a banquet. Those invited did not come, and made all sorts of excuses. So the man asked his servants to invite ¨the poor and maimed and blind and lame.¨ And when there was still space, the man asked his servants to go to the highways and hedges and to compel people to come in. (cfr Lk 14, 15-24)

This is the famous parable where the Latin expression ¨compelle intrare¨ is used. Literally it means, compel them to enter. The other parallel parables softened it to ¨call them to come in¨ or ¨invite them in.” But we cannot deny that after being rebuffed by the original invited guests, the man had to use certain forcefulness to fill up his well-prepared banquet.

This is an image of how eager our Lord wants us to be with him. He uses a certain forefulness that obviously will also respect the way we are, with our intelligence and free will. We are persons not objects nor animals.

When God wants us to be with him, he wants that we also have to want to be with him. This is the language of love. Love and freedom have their innate forcefulness.

We actually cannot avoid using some forcefulness. Even with our own selves, we have to use it, because if not then we would be totally dominated by our laziness, softness, fear, doubts. Right at the start of the day, when we have to get up, we have to use force, and that little daily task can require heroic efforts, both mental and physical.

It´s true that as we age, our physical strength can wane, but not the power of the mind nor of the will. In these latter two faculties, which are our spiritual powers, there´s no such thing as aging, unless we entirely submit them to the law of our physical life. Especially with the grace of God, they can go on gaining scope and depth.

So in theory, because of our spiritual nature, we can go on living. This is the natural basis for our immortality, that capacity to continue living even after our death. But since we are a unity of body and soul, of something material and spiritual, we always experience a certain tension within ourselves which we try to bear by using some forcefulness.

Besides, with our weakened condition because of sin, ours and those of others, plus the historical accumulation of sin´s effects, we have no choice but to use forcefulness if only to survive as a person and as a child of God.

Thus, our Lord told us, ¨From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force.¨ (Mt 11,12) Ergo, we really have to train ourselves to be strong and fit for life´s continuing struggle as we journey toward heaven.

Then there´s that social or apostolic duty we also have that needs forcefulness. We have to continually remind ourselves that we are responsible for one another. We came to life because of our parents. We grow and develop because of the help we get from others. We cannot avoid being with others. Then we realize we also have to do things for others.

But our responsibility toward others should not stay only in the level of our physical and natural needs. It goes all the way to helping others in their spiritual needs. We have to pound this truth more hardly into our head, since our tendency is to take the easy route and languish in the material and shallow aspects.

For this, we have to be strong-willed and patient as well as flexible. We cannot afford to be easily affected by the usual and understandable difficulties when dealing with others, especially those who are close to us.

Everyday, we need to grow in fortitude, exercising our mind and will to do whatever is needed to reach our ultimate goal. There´s obviously a learning curve to go through, but let´s be undaunted.

In a way, we have to echo the line that in love as in war, all is fair. We have to be single-minded and determined!