IT goes without saying that we need
to be vigilant all the
time. Many reasons come to mind. We are in our life like having a
trip, and we should try to avoid getting diverted from our path. Also,
we are in our life somehow in a state of expectation, and we should be
ready for the fulfilment of that expectation.
Besides, in our life there will always be dangers and
mishaps that would require us to be watchful. These dangers,
difficulties, challenges and all the possible consequences they can
bring require us to be very discerning, prudent and at the same time
prompt in taking the appropriate action. We should avoid getting
complacent in this duty.
Given our human condition, we cannot help but get tense,
be held in suspense, and somehow be haunted by fear, doubts,
uncertainties. To some extent, this is all normal. We just have to
make sure that this understandable fretting does not go overboard,
leading us to a state of paranoia when we become suspicious of
everything and of everyone.
The duty to be watchful and vigilant is no excuse for us
to get paranoid. That duty is and should be compatible with joy and
peace that should characterize our life all the time. The secret is to
anchor this duty on the most stable foundation, and that can only be
God.
When this duty to be vigilant is inspired only by some
human criteria alone, like our biases and preferences, our cultural,
sociological and ideological leanings, etc., then we have reason to
fear that it will degenerate into paranoia.
In that situation, we would be prone to get distrustful,
to make many rash judgments, and other wild, disproportionate
reactions. We would even generate a lot of unnecessary heat in the
environment around us. We can get into a freefall of all offenses
against charity.
We need to bank on God always, on his ever wise,
omnipotent and merciful providence. That way, we would be guided by
firm but flexible, clear but highly nuanced criteria. We most likely
would get a proper, or at least fair understanding of people, things
and events, and would behave accordingly.
For this to be effective, we need to pray, study the word
of God, the doctrine of our faith, the history of the Church that can
give us a good idea of how God intervenes in the twists and turns of
the way we use our freedom individually and collectively.
The insights and lessons we can get from these exercises
would calm us down, would reassure us that everything would just be
all right even if we have to experience momentary pains and defeats.
They can readily motivate us to move on, to get along. They help us
avoid getting too scandalized by things as to get stuck with the
problems.
Again, for us to be both vigilant and calm, we need to
develop the relevant virtues like prudence, discretion, temperance,
tact, patience, optimism, and I would say, also humor. Yes, humor!
While we have to be serious in life, we should neither
fall into getting too serious. Humor, as they say, is the best
medicine for worries. It puts us in a better condition to face
problems as they are. It serves to control and dress up the primitive
impulses of our instincts, emotions and passions. It gives us space
and distance so we can view things in a better perspective. It’s a
good foil to our tendency to rub it in.
In that controversy emanating from the recently concluded
Synod of Bishops on the family, this kind of vigilance is most
relevant. In the midst of the debate, let’s hold our horses. No need
to be talking about Antichrist or that so and so is a bad person. or
that his views are rotten.
In a sense, we can and should expect sharp discussion and
disagreements in any church gathering. Past church councils were
neither freed from such conflicts. But there’s always a way to resolve
all this.
Just let everyone say his piece. That way, sooner or
later, we can sort out which is right and which is wrong, which is
part of our faith and morals and which is already heretical.
The issues certainly have to be resolved, but everything
ought to be done in charity, with due respect accorded to every person
involved and to everyone’s views. Even in the worst of scenarios, we
should never abandon charity.
Let’s pray hard, and ask the Lord for the grace to
overcome our tendency to be scandalized and to live charity to the
full.
trip, and we should try to avoid getting diverted from our path. Also,
we are in our life somehow in a state of expectation, and we should be
ready for the fulfilment of that expectation.
Besides, in our life there will always be dangers and
mishaps that would require us to be watchful. These dangers,
difficulties, challenges and all the possible consequences they can
bring require us to be very discerning, prudent and at the same time
prompt in taking the appropriate action. We should avoid getting
complacent in this duty.
Given our human condition, we cannot help but get tense,
be held in suspense, and somehow be haunted by fear, doubts,
uncertainties. To some extent, this is all normal. We just have to
make sure that this understandable fretting does not go overboard,
leading us to a state of paranoia when we become suspicious of
everything and of everyone.
The duty to be watchful and vigilant is no excuse for us
to get paranoid. That duty is and should be compatible with joy and
peace that should characterize our life all the time. The secret is to
anchor this duty on the most stable foundation, and that can only be
God.
When this duty to be vigilant is inspired only by some
human criteria alone, like our biases and preferences, our cultural,
sociological and ideological leanings, etc., then we have reason to
fear that it will degenerate into paranoia.
In that situation, we would be prone to get distrustful,
to make many rash judgments, and other wild, disproportionate
reactions. We would even generate a lot of unnecessary heat in the
environment around us. We can get into a freefall of all offenses
against charity.
We need to bank on God always, on his ever wise,
omnipotent and merciful providence. That way, we would be guided by
firm but flexible, clear but highly nuanced criteria. We most likely
would get a proper, or at least fair understanding of people, things
and events, and would behave accordingly.
For this to be effective, we need to pray, study the word
of God, the doctrine of our faith, the history of the Church that can
give us a good idea of how God intervenes in the twists and turns of
the way we use our freedom individually and collectively.
The insights and lessons we can get from these exercises
would calm us down, would reassure us that everything would just be
all right even if we have to experience momentary pains and defeats.
They can readily motivate us to move on, to get along. They help us
avoid getting too scandalized by things as to get stuck with the
problems.
Again, for us to be both vigilant and calm, we need to
develop the relevant virtues like prudence, discretion, temperance,
tact, patience, optimism, and I would say, also humor. Yes, humor!
While we have to be serious in life, we should neither
fall into getting too serious. Humor, as they say, is the best
medicine for worries. It puts us in a better condition to face
problems as they are. It serves to control and dress up the primitive
impulses of our instincts, emotions and passions. It gives us space
and distance so we can view things in a better perspective. It’s a
good foil to our tendency to rub it in.
In that controversy emanating from the recently concluded
Synod of Bishops on the family, this kind of vigilance is most
relevant. In the midst of the debate, let’s hold our horses. No need
to be talking about Antichrist or that so and so is a bad person. or
that his views are rotten.
In a sense, we can and should expect sharp discussion and
disagreements in any church gathering. Past church councils were
neither freed from such conflicts. But there’s always a way to resolve
all this.
Just let everyone say his piece. That way, sooner or
later, we can sort out which is right and which is wrong, which is
part of our faith and morals and which is already heretical.
The issues certainly have to be resolved, but everything
ought to be done in charity, with due respect accorded to every person
involved and to everyone’s views. Even in the worst of scenarios, we
should never abandon charity.
Let’s pray hard, and ask the Lord for the grace to
overcome our tendency to be scandalized and to live charity to the
full.
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