Forming convictions

WE need to see to it that we are forming convictions,
those strong, deep core beliefs that would serve as a clear and sure
guide in our lives. We have to be wary of a certain culture, quite
rampant these days, which simply fosters shallow thinking, knee-jerk
reactions, and shifty views, and in the end produces men with no
principles.

            Convictions are like anchors and foundations that give
stability and consistency as we go through the flux of life. They are
like rudders that give direction to the ship of our life as we cruise
through the varying conditions of the ocean of time. We should not be
casual, much less, indifferent to them. We have to cultivate them with
determination.

            And where should our convictions be based on? Obviously
upon our nature, and the nature of things in general, which in turn
are given to us by its Creator, God, who has revealed not only himself
to us through Christ in the Holy Spirit, but also the nature of world,
including that of ourselves.

            We should try to avoid simply grounding our convictions on
some ideologies, and much less on some momentary fads and fashions.
They at best can only give so much. And quite often, their
deficiencies occasion dangers, since they may be due to some errors or
confused understanding of certain things.

            Christ is the sure way. He himself said so. “I am the way,
the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
(Jn 14,6) Not only is he, as Son of the God the Father, the very
pattern of our creation but also, by becoming man, our Redeemer.

            That is why Christ once said: “Everyone therefore who
hears these my words, and does them, shall be likened to a wise man
that built his house upon a rock, and the rain fell, and the floods
came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell
not, for it was founded on a rock.” (Mt 7,24-25)

            And so we need to pray and meditate on the word of God,
study its implications and consequences, cultivate the appropriate
attitudes, practices and virtues, and develop a basic plan of life
which, while always renewing, adapting and modifying itself according
to changing circumstances, would put us on track to our definitive,
ultimate goal.

            We need to see to it that there is growth and progress in
this duty of forming convictions. We cannot remain in the infantile
stage, nor in the toddler, child and adolescent phases. We have to aim
at adulthood and maturity. In fact, we have to aim at the fullness of
God, fullness of truth and charity, with Christ as the model, since
that is what is proper to us.

            We have to help one another in this grave concern. The
family is the basic and indispensable venue for this purpose. Thus,
everything has to be done to make the family strong, vibrant and in
the best condition to carry out this duty. We should avoid anything
that would undermine the vitality of the family, like when marriage is
redefined, one or both parents are absentees, family life is
neglected, etc.

            If for one reason or another, the family is found
deficient, if not dysfunctional, then through the principle of
subsidiarity, higher entities may step in, like the other relatives
may have to intervene,  or the school, the community, the parish, the
government, etc.

            To be sure, forming convictions would not make us rigid
and narrow-minded, tied up with some unforgiving principles. If our
convictions are truly based on Christ, they would always be marked by
charity, broadmindedness, prudence, patience, mercy, compassion, as
well as justice, fortitude and strict adherence to the truth.

            These convictions, while having an absolute, permanent
core, would always be dynamic, and would know how to flow with the
times, and how to renew and adjust to varying situations and
circumstances.

            These convictions would allow us to have a global picture
of things, to give due considerations to the big and the small things
in life, the spiritual and material dimensions of life, as well as the
temporal and eternal.

            And far from making us cold and always serious, they would
help us to be very warm and affectionate with others, calm and
cheerful. They banish insecurities. They enable us to remain confident
whatever the situation is.

            We have to do everything to cultivate these convictions
that are necessary in our life. Let’s go beyond the culture of easy
living and shallow thinking. Let’s find our true foundation and orient
ourselves to our ultimate goal.