IF we want to have a good formula of
how we ought to
behave in general, this would be it. We have to be strict with
ourselves as much as possible, and just as much as possible too, we
need to be lenient with others.
We can safely say that this was the mode of behaviour of
Christ himself, who is our way, truth and life. No one could be
stricter with his own self than Christ himself. The very canon of what
is true, good and beautiful for us, he held to that principle
consistently, without any gap.
Even all his efforts at naturalness so as to be one with
us did not make any break in his being strict with his own self. He
managed to pray always, even getting up way before daybreak just to go
to a secluded place to pray.
In fact, from birth to death, he was always characterized
by poverty, detachment, austerity, even if all of these were also
lived in good taste. Let’s remember that when he was stripped of his
garments for his crucifixion, the soldiers were astonished to discover
that his tunic was first-class. It was seamless.
Precisely that vivid description of St. Paul about the
self-emptying of Christ speaks of how strict Christ was with his own
self. Not only did he, being God, allow himself to become man, he went
all the way to offer his life on the cross. Can anyone be more strict
than he is?
And yet, he was most open to others, no matter how much
they offended him. He was simply game with them, or at least, just
kept quiet and bore everything in silence. He even offered to ask for
forgiveness for those who crucified him.
Christ always respects the freedom of men, however it is
used, for the good or for evil. His love for us is such that he is
above whatever immorality we may commit. He came to save, not to
condemn. If someone is condemned, it would not be because of Christ,
but rather because of that person concerned.
Christ is only concerned with showing us the true nature
of love and its full range, which would include his eternal mercy and
compassion. He gives us the grace necessary for it, and the many means
by which this love can be lived. He gives himself completely to us,
sparing nothing.
It now depends on us whether we will correspond to his
love and goodness. That is why he gave that new commandment that
summarized and perfected all the other commandments. “Love one another
as I have loved you.”
It is the love that involves being very strict with
oneself while always being lenient with everybody else. It’s the love
that never responds to evil with another evil. Rather, it is the kind
that drowns evil with an abundance of good.
We need to learn this kind of love from Christ. We have to
convince ourselves that this is the only love that is proper to us.
More than that, we should have no doubt that this love is possible and
doable, because Christ himself has given us everything for us to live
it.
We have to do our part. While it’s true that we are always
conditioned by many elements like our temperament, our physical,
emotional and mental health, our social and economic status, etc., we
have to learn also how to go beyond them, and not simply be restricted
by them.
God’s grace for this purpose is never lacking, and the
effort needed simply depends on us completely. Part of the strictness
we have to exercise on ourselves is precisely to be willing to be
patient, to bear whatever needs to be borne, and doing it cheerfully,
without complaint.
May it be that we can get beyond our personal preferences
and biases, that we can learn to love and understand everyone no
matter how different they are to us, or worse, offensive. Ours should
only be to do good to others, even if our efforts would not be
reciprocated.
We have to learn to be magnanimous, and also to be quick
to discover anything good, no matter how small, in any person or
situation, even if that good is dominated by a lot of evil.
Let’s pray for the grace and work it out also so that we
can reach a point where we would not be scandalized by any evil, but
rather would always be moved to help and to love more, so conversion
and transformation would take place.
behave in general, this would be it. We have to be strict with
ourselves as much as possible, and just as much as possible too, we
need to be lenient with others.
We can safely say that this was the mode of behaviour of
Christ himself, who is our way, truth and life. No one could be
stricter with his own self than Christ himself. The very canon of what
is true, good and beautiful for us, he held to that principle
consistently, without any gap.
Even all his efforts at naturalness so as to be one with
us did not make any break in his being strict with his own self. He
managed to pray always, even getting up way before daybreak just to go
to a secluded place to pray.
In fact, from birth to death, he was always characterized
by poverty, detachment, austerity, even if all of these were also
lived in good taste. Let’s remember that when he was stripped of his
garments for his crucifixion, the soldiers were astonished to discover
that his tunic was first-class. It was seamless.
Precisely that vivid description of St. Paul about the
self-emptying of Christ speaks of how strict Christ was with his own
self. Not only did he, being God, allow himself to become man, he went
all the way to offer his life on the cross. Can anyone be more strict
than he is?
And yet, he was most open to others, no matter how much
they offended him. He was simply game with them, or at least, just
kept quiet and bore everything in silence. He even offered to ask for
forgiveness for those who crucified him.
Christ always respects the freedom of men, however it is
used, for the good or for evil. His love for us is such that he is
above whatever immorality we may commit. He came to save, not to
condemn. If someone is condemned, it would not be because of Christ,
but rather because of that person concerned.
Christ is only concerned with showing us the true nature
of love and its full range, which would include his eternal mercy and
compassion. He gives us the grace necessary for it, and the many means
by which this love can be lived. He gives himself completely to us,
sparing nothing.
It now depends on us whether we will correspond to his
love and goodness. That is why he gave that new commandment that
summarized and perfected all the other commandments. “Love one another
as I have loved you.”
It is the love that involves being very strict with
oneself while always being lenient with everybody else. It’s the love
that never responds to evil with another evil. Rather, it is the kind
that drowns evil with an abundance of good.
We need to learn this kind of love from Christ. We have to
convince ourselves that this is the only love that is proper to us.
More than that, we should have no doubt that this love is possible and
doable, because Christ himself has given us everything for us to live
it.
We have to do our part. While it’s true that we are always
conditioned by many elements like our temperament, our physical,
emotional and mental health, our social and economic status, etc., we
have to learn also how to go beyond them, and not simply be restricted
by them.
God’s grace for this purpose is never lacking, and the
effort needed simply depends on us completely. Part of the strictness
we have to exercise on ourselves is precisely to be willing to be
patient, to bear whatever needs to be borne, and doing it cheerfully,
without complaint.
May it be that we can get beyond our personal preferences
and biases, that we can learn to love and understand everyone no
matter how different they are to us, or worse, offensive. Ours should
only be to do good to others, even if our efforts would not be
reciprocated.
We have to learn to be magnanimous, and also to be quick
to discover anything good, no matter how small, in any person or
situation, even if that good is dominated by a lot of evil.
Let’s pray for the grace and work it out also so that we
can reach a point where we would not be scandalized by any evil, but
rather would always be moved to help and to love more, so conversion
and transformation would take place.
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