THIS is the common concern of all of
us who in one way or
another enter into some commitment, be it marriage, priesthood, etc.
This is especially so if the commitment is of the lifelong type, like
a vocation.
It’s understandable that with the flow of time, we fall
into some familiarity, lukewarmness, routine, complacency in our
commitments. We should not make a big fuss over it. We are quite aware
that “familiarity breed contempt,” a phenomenon that should not be
surprising given our wounded nature. Obviously, we have to do
something about it.
In the Book of Revelation, an apocalyptic book with a
dreadfully prophetic character but this time with a dash of hope, we
are told about the predicaments of the seven churches, actually a
figure of the universal church, meaning, all of us.
It describes the good aspects of each of these churches,
as well as their weakness and predicaments. To the Church of Ephesus,
for example, the Apostle John said: ‘I know your works, your toil and
your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear evil men…But I have
this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.”
(2,1)
To the Church of Sardis, he said: “I know your works. You
have the name of being alive, and you are dead.” (3,1) And to the
Church of Laodicea, he said: “I know your works. You are neither cold
nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.”
(3,15-16)
As I said, it’s not good to get stuck with the negative
things of our life, like our usual penchant to get too familiar with
people and with our commitments, or to fall into spiritual and moral
lukewarmness and complacency.
We have to learn to grapple with these eventualities and
learn to move on, always relying on God’s grace and assurance. He has
already given us everything so that we can be what we ought to be, we
can do what we are supposed to do, we can be faithful to our
commitment not only in a dragging way but rather with great zeal.
We just have to do our part. Our attitude should be that
we just have to begin and begin again. We have to learn how to renew
ourselves, or how to have another conversion since conversion is going
to be a lifelong necessity for us.
This is how we can distance ourselves from the constant
threat of familiarity and complacency. What we need to do is to
continue, without let up, having to begin and begin again. This is a
practical law of life that we should apply in our daily affairs. Let’s
not get too sentimental and wait for some strong inspiration before we
move. With a simple act of the will, let’s just do it—that of having
to begin and begin again.
We need this attitude and practice, first of all, when we
commit a mistake. We can always begin again, because even if we have
to contend with the consequences of our mistakes, we can always count
on God’s mercy and the power of atonement and reparation that always
produces beautiful effects.
We have to begin and begin again because we are also
subject to our continuing tendency to be lukewarm. That’s an
undeniable condition we have to contend everyday. Besides, we easily
get distracted from our proper goal.
And lastly, we have to begin and begin again because in
spite of our best efforts, our ultimate goal to be with God forever
always beckons us. Thus, in the Book of Revelation, we read the
relevant passage: “He that is holy, let him be sanctified still.”
(22,11)
This attitude of having to begin and begin again makes the
need for constant renewal attainable, and not left simply as a mere
desire. It keeps us going, fanning the love that is at the core of our
being, until that love gets consummated when with God, we will always
be new, never to grow old.
This does not mean that we have to do some extraordinary
effort to begin again. As I said, a simple act of the will is enough,
carrying it out with simplicity and humility, in silence, and
everything will be different because the colors and the passions of
love will again start to appear.
If we are prompt and consistent in this attitude and
practice, we can manage to nullify the workings of familiarity,
lukewarmness and complacency.
another enter into some commitment, be it marriage, priesthood, etc.
This is especially so if the commitment is of the lifelong type, like
a vocation.
It’s understandable that with the flow of time, we fall
into some familiarity, lukewarmness, routine, complacency in our
commitments. We should not make a big fuss over it. We are quite aware
that “familiarity breed contempt,” a phenomenon that should not be
surprising given our wounded nature. Obviously, we have to do
something about it.
In the Book of Revelation, an apocalyptic book with a
dreadfully prophetic character but this time with a dash of hope, we
are told about the predicaments of the seven churches, actually a
figure of the universal church, meaning, all of us.
It describes the good aspects of each of these churches,
as well as their weakness and predicaments. To the Church of Ephesus,
for example, the Apostle John said: ‘I know your works, your toil and
your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear evil men…But I have
this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.”
(2,1)
To the Church of Sardis, he said: “I know your works. You
have the name of being alive, and you are dead.” (3,1) And to the
Church of Laodicea, he said: “I know your works. You are neither cold
nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.”
(3,15-16)
As I said, it’s not good to get stuck with the negative
things of our life, like our usual penchant to get too familiar with
people and with our commitments, or to fall into spiritual and moral
lukewarmness and complacency.
We have to learn to grapple with these eventualities and
learn to move on, always relying on God’s grace and assurance. He has
already given us everything so that we can be what we ought to be, we
can do what we are supposed to do, we can be faithful to our
commitment not only in a dragging way but rather with great zeal.
We just have to do our part. Our attitude should be that
we just have to begin and begin again. We have to learn how to renew
ourselves, or how to have another conversion since conversion is going
to be a lifelong necessity for us.
This is how we can distance ourselves from the constant
threat of familiarity and complacency. What we need to do is to
continue, without let up, having to begin and begin again. This is a
practical law of life that we should apply in our daily affairs. Let’s
not get too sentimental and wait for some strong inspiration before we
move. With a simple act of the will, let’s just do it—that of having
to begin and begin again.
We need this attitude and practice, first of all, when we
commit a mistake. We can always begin again, because even if we have
to contend with the consequences of our mistakes, we can always count
on God’s mercy and the power of atonement and reparation that always
produces beautiful effects.
We have to begin and begin again because we are also
subject to our continuing tendency to be lukewarm. That’s an
undeniable condition we have to contend everyday. Besides, we easily
get distracted from our proper goal.
And lastly, we have to begin and begin again because in
spite of our best efforts, our ultimate goal to be with God forever
always beckons us. Thus, in the Book of Revelation, we read the
relevant passage: “He that is holy, let him be sanctified still.”
(22,11)
This attitude of having to begin and begin again makes the
need for constant renewal attainable, and not left simply as a mere
desire. It keeps us going, fanning the love that is at the core of our
being, until that love gets consummated when with God, we will always
be new, never to grow old.
This does not mean that we have to do some extraordinary
effort to begin again. As I said, a simple act of the will is enough,
carrying it out with simplicity and humility, in silence, and
everything will be different because the colors and the passions of
love will again start to appear.
If we are prompt and consistent in this attitude and
practice, we can manage to nullify the workings of familiarity,
lukewarmness and complacency.
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