I WAS reminded of these words from an old song, which I am now using
as the title of this piece, when the sneaky maneuver to end the RH
bill debate in Congress some years back triggered an explosion of
angry reactions both from the pros and the antis.
I felt I had to retreat to the sides for a while, since the arena is
full of fire, smoke and dust, and we really cannot do anything
constructive when such is the situation.
Thing is, the dialogue and debate have turned practically into a
shouting match, and some of the once honorable and respectable men and
women involved have mutated into mad dogs who seem to have abandoned
reason and charity and have embraced the ways of passion and hatred,
unloading trash and increasingly straying from the real issues.
I had to remind everyone in the social networking to stay calm and
always to remain in the hold of charity, despite the sharp differences
and conflicts of views. We have to avoid what is called as bitter
zeal, that blinding disease of self-righteousness that leads one to
pursue his perceived good cause while leaving behind charity.
Truth, justice, charity actually cannot be separated. If any of these
values is missing, the others also fall even if they continue to
appear standing. And that’s why, we have to learn to widen and deepen
our perspectives, and not confine ourselves to what is here and now,
and even in the short-run or long-run, the way they are defined
humanly.
We have to think in terms of eternity, of God’s wisdom and providence.
We have to bring to our mind the very crucifixion of Christ who,
completely sinless, chose to assume our sins and die to them to rise
on the third day. These should bring us to our senses.
There we can find the reason why we need to be patient and
magnanimous, merciful and ever charitable. In the end, even if some
people cause us a lot of disturbance and can even offend us, they
still are our brothers and sisters. When there’s real love in the
heart, these brethren really are not too heavy to bear.
Our Lord asked for forgiveness for those who nailed him to the cross.
“For they know not what they do,” he said. These words explain why
things and people are the way they are at the moment.
Let’s be hopeful always. Setbacks along the way are really temporary,
and are meant to spur us on to greater charity and understanding. They
are meant for us to have another and deeper conversion. Thing is, evil
will never have the last word. We may express our anguish and
frustration for now, but let’s not dwell long in them.
We have to pray that people and things calm down. Let’s sustain the
effort, no matter how obstructed, to clarify the issues. Those against
the RH Bill, especially if they happen to be priests and men, are not
anti-poor nor anti-women. If the others can remove that bias, then we
expect a more objective, balanced discussion.
And those who are for the RH are not necessarily devils incarnate.
They are our brothers and sisters whom we have to love. Remember what
our Lord once said: “Love your enemies…Don’t resist evil. If one
strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him also the other…”
We have to understand them. Let’s try to see where they are coming
from, so we would know why they say and act the way they do. And from
there, let’s think of the proper and charitable way to deal with them.
Fact is, people are subject to different situations, predicaments and
conditionings. Some of us are very emotional, others may be
intelligent but proud. Some may be very sensitive, others hardened by
their problems that can range from the merely natural to the moral and
spiritual. Some can have mental disorders, others blinded by some
dangerous ideologies.
We have to understand everyone. When there’s a lot of fire, we should
not put more fire. We have to learn when to talk and when not. We have
to learn to be attentive to the sensibilities of the different people.
Having to say sorry may have to done often, even if the other party is
at fault.
We have to make charity, magnanimity and prudence reign. We should not
be interested simply in scoring points. Charity has to be the supreme
and guiding value to live.
Let’s stay calm always!
as the title of this piece, when the sneaky maneuver to end the RH
bill debate in Congress some years back triggered an explosion of
angry reactions both from the pros and the antis.
I felt I had to retreat to the sides for a while, since the arena is
full of fire, smoke and dust, and we really cannot do anything
constructive when such is the situation.
Thing is, the dialogue and debate have turned practically into a
shouting match, and some of the once honorable and respectable men and
women involved have mutated into mad dogs who seem to have abandoned
reason and charity and have embraced the ways of passion and hatred,
unloading trash and increasingly straying from the real issues.
I had to remind everyone in the social networking to stay calm and
always to remain in the hold of charity, despite the sharp differences
and conflicts of views. We have to avoid what is called as bitter
zeal, that blinding disease of self-righteousness that leads one to
pursue his perceived good cause while leaving behind charity.
Truth, justice, charity actually cannot be separated. If any of these
values is missing, the others also fall even if they continue to
appear standing. And that’s why, we have to learn to widen and deepen
our perspectives, and not confine ourselves to what is here and now,
and even in the short-run or long-run, the way they are defined
humanly.
We have to think in terms of eternity, of God’s wisdom and providence.
We have to bring to our mind the very crucifixion of Christ who,
completely sinless, chose to assume our sins and die to them to rise
on the third day. These should bring us to our senses.
There we can find the reason why we need to be patient and
magnanimous, merciful and ever charitable. In the end, even if some
people cause us a lot of disturbance and can even offend us, they
still are our brothers and sisters. When there’s real love in the
heart, these brethren really are not too heavy to bear.
Our Lord asked for forgiveness for those who nailed him to the cross.
“For they know not what they do,” he said. These words explain why
things and people are the way they are at the moment.
Let’s be hopeful always. Setbacks along the way are really temporary,
and are meant to spur us on to greater charity and understanding. They
are meant for us to have another and deeper conversion. Thing is, evil
will never have the last word. We may express our anguish and
frustration for now, but let’s not dwell long in them.
We have to pray that people and things calm down. Let’s sustain the
effort, no matter how obstructed, to clarify the issues. Those against
the RH Bill, especially if they happen to be priests and men, are not
anti-poor nor anti-women. If the others can remove that bias, then we
expect a more objective, balanced discussion.
And those who are for the RH are not necessarily devils incarnate.
They are our brothers and sisters whom we have to love. Remember what
our Lord once said: “Love your enemies…Don’t resist evil. If one
strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him also the other…”
We have to understand them. Let’s try to see where they are coming
from, so we would know why they say and act the way they do. And from
there, let’s think of the proper and charitable way to deal with them.
Fact is, people are subject to different situations, predicaments and
conditionings. Some of us are very emotional, others may be
intelligent but proud. Some may be very sensitive, others hardened by
their problems that can range from the merely natural to the moral and
spiritual. Some can have mental disorders, others blinded by some
dangerous ideologies.
We have to understand everyone. When there’s a lot of fire, we should
not put more fire. We have to learn when to talk and when not. We have
to learn to be attentive to the sensibilities of the different people.
Having to say sorry may have to done often, even if the other party is
at fault.
We have to make charity, magnanimity and prudence reign. We should not
be interested simply in scoring points. Charity has to be the supreme
and guiding value to live.
Let’s stay calm always!
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