CHARITY, of course, has to be lived
always, but especially
when we find ourselves in conflicts.
We have to learn to see Christ in everyone, including those with whom
we may have serious differences or are in conflict. We have to go
beyond seeing others in a purely human way without, of course,
neglecting the human and natural in us.
In short, we have to see others in a spiritual way, within
the framework of faith, hope and charity. Otherwise we cannot avoid
getting entangled in our limited and conflict-prone earthly condition.
And no amount of human justice and humanitarianism can fully resolve
this predicament.
Thus, we need to develop and hone our skills of looking at
others beyond the merely physical, social, economic, cultural or
political way. While these aspects are always to be considered, we
should not be trapped by them.
There are many reasons for this. First would be that we
are all brothers and sisters, created by God in his image and
likeness, and made children of his through his grace.
In spite of our differences—race, culture, beliefs,
etc.—we are meant to care and love one another. Thus, our Lord told us
to “love your neighbour as I have loved you.” (Jn 13,34)
And how did Christ love us? By becoming man and assuming
all our sinfulness, dying to it to give us a new life in him. His love
was for everyone, and especially for those who were weak and
handicapped not so much in the physical sense as in the moral sense.
That’s why he was close to the sinners, fraternizing with
them. He would only show his dislike to those who were self-righteous.
Just the same, he loved all as proven by the fact that before dying on
the cross, he asked forgiveness from his Father for those who
crucified him.
We have to expand and deepen our attitudes towards others.
Are we willing to think always of them, keenly observant of how they
are? Are we moved to pray for them and to leap to their assistance
when the opportunity comes?
Our problem is that we tend to think always of ourselves,
and our view of the others is mainly shaped by purely human motives
that cannot reach the level of charity.
Let’s remember that as St. Paul said, we have to “bear
each other’s burdens.” (Gal 6,2) Do we have that kind of outlook? Are
we quick to help others even to the point of inconveniencing
ourselves?
We have to start dismantling attitudes, habits and
practices that keep us imprisoned in our own world, mistakenly
thinking that these actually would make us happy or are good for us.
These past days I had had the luck of meeting simple
people who are thinking only of others. I did not hear any negative
remark from them about anyone, and frankly, I felt so good talking to
them. It was a joy to be with them.
Our problem is that we tend to just gossip and gossip, our
mouth and tongue quite on their own with hardly any supervision from a
higher agency in our system. We are also affected by our prejudices
and biases. Of course, we tend to forget charity when we encounter
sharp differences with others.
We have to follow the example of Christ who tried to find
something good even in those who were doing wrong. For example, one
time he told his disciples to continue observing what their religious
leaders taught them, but not to follow their example, because they do
not practice what they preach. (cfr Mt 23,2)
He made that distinction between what was taught and what
was practiced, and did not lump up the right teaching with the wrong
practice. We should be quick to find the right and the good things
that can go together with the bad and wrong things.
Even with handling of dishonest money, he showed goodness
of heart. Christ recommended that we “make friends with dishonest
money,” so that when it fails we can still be welcomed to heaven. (cfr
Lk 16,9)
It’s not that we ought to foster dishonesty, but rather to
learn how to make do and make use of evil things in this world to do
good. This conclusion can be gleaned from the fact that our Lord
summarized the whole episode by saying, “No servant can serve two
masters...You cannot serve God and mammon.”
We need to be pro-active in seeing Christ in everyone and
in eliciting true charity when we relate to them, regardless of the
circumstances.
when we find ourselves in conflicts.
We have to learn to see Christ in everyone, including those with whom
we may have serious differences or are in conflict. We have to go
beyond seeing others in a purely human way without, of course,
neglecting the human and natural in us.
In short, we have to see others in a spiritual way, within
the framework of faith, hope and charity. Otherwise we cannot avoid
getting entangled in our limited and conflict-prone earthly condition.
And no amount of human justice and humanitarianism can fully resolve
this predicament.
Thus, we need to develop and hone our skills of looking at
others beyond the merely physical, social, economic, cultural or
political way. While these aspects are always to be considered, we
should not be trapped by them.
There are many reasons for this. First would be that we
are all brothers and sisters, created by God in his image and
likeness, and made children of his through his grace.
In spite of our differences—race, culture, beliefs,
etc.—we are meant to care and love one another. Thus, our Lord told us
to “love your neighbour as I have loved you.” (Jn 13,34)
And how did Christ love us? By becoming man and assuming
all our sinfulness, dying to it to give us a new life in him. His love
was for everyone, and especially for those who were weak and
handicapped not so much in the physical sense as in the moral sense.
That’s why he was close to the sinners, fraternizing with
them. He would only show his dislike to those who were self-righteous.
Just the same, he loved all as proven by the fact that before dying on
the cross, he asked forgiveness from his Father for those who
crucified him.
We have to expand and deepen our attitudes towards others.
Are we willing to think always of them, keenly observant of how they
are? Are we moved to pray for them and to leap to their assistance
when the opportunity comes?
Our problem is that we tend to think always of ourselves,
and our view of the others is mainly shaped by purely human motives
that cannot reach the level of charity.
Let’s remember that as St. Paul said, we have to “bear
each other’s burdens.” (Gal 6,2) Do we have that kind of outlook? Are
we quick to help others even to the point of inconveniencing
ourselves?
We have to start dismantling attitudes, habits and
practices that keep us imprisoned in our own world, mistakenly
thinking that these actually would make us happy or are good for us.
These past days I had had the luck of meeting simple
people who are thinking only of others. I did not hear any negative
remark from them about anyone, and frankly, I felt so good talking to
them. It was a joy to be with them.
Our problem is that we tend to just gossip and gossip, our
mouth and tongue quite on their own with hardly any supervision from a
higher agency in our system. We are also affected by our prejudices
and biases. Of course, we tend to forget charity when we encounter
sharp differences with others.
We have to follow the example of Christ who tried to find
something good even in those who were doing wrong. For example, one
time he told his disciples to continue observing what their religious
leaders taught them, but not to follow their example, because they do
not practice what they preach. (cfr Mt 23,2)
He made that distinction between what was taught and what
was practiced, and did not lump up the right teaching with the wrong
practice. We should be quick to find the right and the good things
that can go together with the bad and wrong things.
Even with handling of dishonest money, he showed goodness
of heart. Christ recommended that we “make friends with dishonest
money,” so that when it fails we can still be welcomed to heaven. (cfr
Lk 16,9)
It’s not that we ought to foster dishonesty, but rather to
learn how to make do and make use of evil things in this world to do
good. This conclusion can be gleaned from the fact that our Lord
summarized the whole episode by saying, “No servant can serve two
masters...You cannot serve God and mammon.”
We need to be pro-active in seeing Christ in everyone and
in eliciting true charity when we relate to them, regardless of the
circumstances.
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