WE have to be both mindful and
thoughtful, because this is
what is proper to us. If we fail to cultivate these traits, we
actually are harming our very own humanity, aborting our road to human
maturity, not to mention, the fullness of Christian life.
We need to be mindful because we have to know what’s going
around us. We should never be aloof and indifferent. We have to be
aware not only of things and events that are taking place, whether
near or far, but also and most especially of persons, starting with
the one right beside us.
what is proper to us. If we fail to cultivate these traits, we
actually are harming our very own humanity, aborting our road to human
maturity, not to mention, the fullness of Christian life.
We need to be mindful because we have to know what’s going
around us. We should never be aloof and indifferent. We have to be
aware not only of things and events that are taking place, whether
near or far, but also and most especially of persons, starting with
the one right beside us.
In this way, we become active agents
in the itinerary of
our history as well as ministers in the very lives of people. We
should not forget that our life is always tied to the lives of others,
and that we too have a role to play in their lives, obviously in
different ways and in varying degrees.
At least, when we are aware of our togetherness and are
actively maintaining it, whatever good we have would always be shared
by being multiplied, and whatever evil or misfortune we have would
also be shared by being divided among us. That’s how things work.
And not only should we be mindful. We also need to be
thoughtful. We should think ahead of how things are developing and of
what we can do to help shape its evolution. Life is always a work in
progress, and there are goals, the ultimate and the subordinate, to
reach. We should not get stuck with the here and now.
We should learn to read the signs of the times and to
prepare ourselves for whatever indications or warnings they are giving
us. This way we put ourselves in condition to influence the flow of
things, and to somehow already fashion the future.
Most especially, we have to be thoughtful of others
always, ever anticipating of their needs and never just contented with
attending to their present situation. This could very well be the
litmus test of the sincerity of our love and concern for them.
Christ was both mindful and thoughtful. In spite of the
supernatural loftiness of his mission, he was always aware of the
conditions of those who were with him. And he was quick to address
their needs at that time.
His compassion was direct and immediate. When someone
asked for healing, he healed him without hesitation. When he saw the
crowd hungry and weary, he asked that they be fed, even if the
conditions for doing so were quite adverse. He even raised the dead
back to life.
In all these manifestations of his compassion, he never
forgot to do what he needed to do. He preached about the Kingdom of
heaven, and about how we ought to be, ultimately giving us the new
commandment of loving one another as he has loved us.
His mindfulness and thoughtfulness is epitomized in his
parable of the Good Samaritan. Unlike the previous passers-by that
even included a priest, the Good Samaritan immediately went to help a
fellow robbed and left half-dead at the roadside.
He must have changed his plans sharply and abruptly, and
he did it quite willingly. Just the same, even as he ministered to the
unfortunate fellow, he did not forget what he had to do. He made
arrangements with the innkeeper for the continuing care of the
recuperating man, but he proceeded to his business.
We should see to it that while we are asked to be always
compassionate with others, we should not forget the real goal of life,
both ours and that of the others. We need to move on and go toward our
real common goal.
It would be good that right from our young age, we be
taught how to be mindful and thoughtful. This can always be done in
many ways, starting with the very elementary means of teaching
children to learn to be attentive, observant and helpful to the
others.
Obviously as we grow, these mindfulness and thoughtfulness
have to develop in the sense of being more ingrained in us and of
being more creative, making a lot of initiatives and not afraid to
make sacrifices for the others, even to the heroic degree.
This is actually a big challenge nowadays as we see
people, especially the young ones, trapped in their own world of
self-absorption, thanks and no thanks to our new technologies that, if
used indiscriminately, can ruin our need to be mindful and thoughtful.
Let’s all give examples to others of how to be mindful and
thoughtful!
our history as well as ministers in the very lives of people. We
should not forget that our life is always tied to the lives of others,
and that we too have a role to play in their lives, obviously in
different ways and in varying degrees.
At least, when we are aware of our togetherness and are
actively maintaining it, whatever good we have would always be shared
by being multiplied, and whatever evil or misfortune we have would
also be shared by being divided among us. That’s how things work.
And not only should we be mindful. We also need to be
thoughtful. We should think ahead of how things are developing and of
what we can do to help shape its evolution. Life is always a work in
progress, and there are goals, the ultimate and the subordinate, to
reach. We should not get stuck with the here and now.
We should learn to read the signs of the times and to
prepare ourselves for whatever indications or warnings they are giving
us. This way we put ourselves in condition to influence the flow of
things, and to somehow already fashion the future.
Most especially, we have to be thoughtful of others
always, ever anticipating of their needs and never just contented with
attending to their present situation. This could very well be the
litmus test of the sincerity of our love and concern for them.
Christ was both mindful and thoughtful. In spite of the
supernatural loftiness of his mission, he was always aware of the
conditions of those who were with him. And he was quick to address
their needs at that time.
His compassion was direct and immediate. When someone
asked for healing, he healed him without hesitation. When he saw the
crowd hungry and weary, he asked that they be fed, even if the
conditions for doing so were quite adverse. He even raised the dead
back to life.
In all these manifestations of his compassion, he never
forgot to do what he needed to do. He preached about the Kingdom of
heaven, and about how we ought to be, ultimately giving us the new
commandment of loving one another as he has loved us.
His mindfulness and thoughtfulness is epitomized in his
parable of the Good Samaritan. Unlike the previous passers-by that
even included a priest, the Good Samaritan immediately went to help a
fellow robbed and left half-dead at the roadside.
He must have changed his plans sharply and abruptly, and
he did it quite willingly. Just the same, even as he ministered to the
unfortunate fellow, he did not forget what he had to do. He made
arrangements with the innkeeper for the continuing care of the
recuperating man, but he proceeded to his business.
We should see to it that while we are asked to be always
compassionate with others, we should not forget the real goal of life,
both ours and that of the others. We need to move on and go toward our
real common goal.
It would be good that right from our young age, we be
taught how to be mindful and thoughtful. This can always be done in
many ways, starting with the very elementary means of teaching
children to learn to be attentive, observant and helpful to the
others.
Obviously as we grow, these mindfulness and thoughtfulness
have to develop in the sense of being more ingrained in us and of
being more creative, making a lot of initiatives and not afraid to
make sacrifices for the others, even to the heroic degree.
This is actually a big challenge nowadays as we see
people, especially the young ones, trapped in their own world of
self-absorption, thanks and no thanks to our new technologies that, if
used indiscriminately, can ruin our need to be mindful and thoughtful.
Let’s all give examples to others of how to be mindful and
thoughtful!
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