Existential formation

THIS is what we all need—a lifelong formation. Our learning never ends, even if we already have accumulated tons of knowledge and skills through the years. In fact, the more we know, the more we should get convinced there's still a lot more to know.

In his second letter, St. Peter has this relevant words to say: “Do you on your part strive diligently to supply your faith with virtue, your virtue with knowledge, your knowledge with self-control, your self-control with patience, your patience with piety, your piety with fraternal love, your fraternal love with charity.” (1,5-7)

And this is because we are poised for infinity and eternity. The discrepancy between what we can and what we are poised to is not meant for us to stop learning, but rather to continue learning endlessly, by always asking for God's grace, since this enterprise is simply beyond human capacity.

Our formation has to embrace the whole of our existence. The things to know and master are not only infinite but are supposed to lead us to God, to know, love and serve Him more and more each day, and because of him, to love others as well. This should be the driving principle of our pursuit for formation. Short of this, we would be in trouble.

Apropos, St. Paul says these words:

"If anyone...does not agree with the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about controversies and disputes of words. From these arise envies, quarrels, blasphemies, base suspicions, the wranglings of men corrupt in mind and bereft of truth." (1 Tim 6,3-6)

How true! Just a quick glance around, and we can find hundreds of cases on a daily basis that give credence to these Pauline words. Outside of God, we would just be left on our own, either in the cold or in the heat of bitter conflicts among ourselves.

In short, we need to understand that the source and object of our formation is God himself, and not just any country's constitution, some ideological understanding of human rights, social or political consensus, current fads and fashions, etc.

These are man-made devices that need to be constantly animated and renewed by God's eternal wisdom. These are inadequate to face all the objective challenges of man in this world. They are lifeless unless vivified by God's spirit.

What can even worsen that condition is that they can act like plastic material that can be used and abused by us according to our motives and states in life, which can include ignorance, confusion, error, thoughless and passion-packed interventions, etc.

I am just amazed that many people, including many leaders, do not realize this. They seem contented to base everything simply on our own ideas, without making that vital linkage with the source and author of all Truth, Goodness and Beauty.

This connecting with God may be a very difficult task both on the personal and social levels, but it is not impossible. We just have to learn to handle it and persevere in it. We can commit mistakes, but as long as there is good faith, we can still manage to be truly connected with God.

We need to start as soon as possible a kind of paradigm shift in our thinking and attitudes, a revolution that should begin in our hearts before it spreads into our families, schools, offices, societies and the world in general. Doing things on our own, without God, just cannot take off, no matter how many the illusions of taking off are given to us.

Our leaders should lead in this. First, the Church officials—bishops, priests, etc. Then our teachers and political leaders. And given their privileged but delicate positions, the media people, celebrities and other prominent personages should feel the great need for a continuing formation.

Sometimes I get more amused than bothered when I hear slogans used by media people that they are supposed to be objective and fearless, defenders and lovers of the truth, etc., when all they do is spout their own ideas and opinions only. As the Cebuano slang used by the youth today would have it, “Estoryahee” (Tell it to the Marines!).

We have to be wary of false doctrine and ideology circulating around. “See to it that no one deceives you by philosophy and vain deceit, according to human traditions, to the elements of the world and not according to Christ,” St. Paul says (Col 2,8)

We need formation!