I CONSIDER it an improvement in
sensibility that many
people nowadays are concerned about ecology. Generations ago the
average dude paid no attention to ecological matters. Times have
definitely changed, for the better.
Let´s do everything to develop this care for the
environment to its maximum potential, increasing our scientific
knowledge about our world, purifying it of false data that often are
presented as gospel truths, and cultivating the corresponding
attitudes and skills.
We have to always hone up our skills of properly managing
our surroundings, ever thoughtful of how things are developing and
helping everybody else to cultivate the right attitude. In this area,
things can be very challenging. But they are not impossible.
Perhaps, what can still make things perk up is to extend
that ecological sense to include not only climatic and environmental
concerns, but also and more importantly, moral and spiritual
interests.
This part of ecology, let´s remind ourselves, is in fact
the ultimate and most crucial since it goes direct to the very heart
of our human development. In this regard, we have to be most eager to
attain the ability to mirror to everyone around us what is genuinely
true, good and beautiful.
This can be summarized as the ability to mirror the holy,
sanctity being the integrated sum of all these qualities. We create
the most ideal environment when our mind and heart reflect God´s
goodness whatever may be the views, positions and situations we may
have in life.
We have to remember that our mind and heart have God as
their proper, ultimate object, and because of God, also the others.
Our minds and hearts should be filled with thoughts and desires to
please God and the others. This is how we mirror the holy and create a
good environment fit for all of us as children of God.
We would be misusing if not abusing these spiritual powers
of ours if we engage them with something else, especially with our own
interests and concerns alone. Besides, such misuse would most likely
lead to painful divisions.
We should not get lost in our differences and conflicts
with respect to our temporal or earthly affairs. While these
differences and conflicts cannot be avoided, we can always manage to
be good and understanding to one another. This is of course possible
only if we manage to refer things to God.
Of course, we have to do all this with naturalness and
discretion, avoiding attracting unnecessary attention and creating
inhuman ways and lifestyles. Just the same, we should not shy from
this constant effort to emit goodness everywhere.
Christ himself knew how to show his divinity, among
others, through the miracles he performed. But amazing as the miracles
were, he tried to be discreet about them by telling the persons
involved not to announce the miracles to the public but rather to
report to the priests. Of course, we know that many of these people
went out announcing the miracles to all.
In spite of being misunderstood, Christ kept his goodwill
to all, resorting to his righteous anger only when he had to declare
what was morally wrong with the people´s behavior.
The example of St. Paul can also shed light as to how we
ought to mirror the holy. He reached the point of saying that the
people, we, should be followers of him as he was a follower of Christ.
(cfr 1 Cor 11,1)
In another occasion, he boldly told the Thessalonians that
he was giving them a pattern for them to imitate. (2 Thes, 3,9). He
was not ashamed to put himself the model for everyone to follow.
There´s a need to cultivate this attitude. Sad to say,
many succumb to the false sense of humility of not wanting to be a
model of holiness for the others. And yet, irony of ironies, many
crave to be an idol to the others insofar as good looks or fashion or
sport accomplishments are concerned. In these areas, they can be very
daring and shameless.
With all the confusing elements of our modern world, we
have to convince ourselves that we need to mirror the holy, that such
responsibility is not only possible but also practicable, complete
with the sense of modesty we would like to have in fulfilling it.
In a business meeting, for example, where some contentious
issues would be discussed, the duty to mirror the holy can mean having
a firm grip on the emotions so that the discussion can stick to the
essential aspects without getting stranded in the hot incidentals.
people nowadays are concerned about ecology. Generations ago the
average dude paid no attention to ecological matters. Times have
definitely changed, for the better.
Let´s do everything to develop this care for the
environment to its maximum potential, increasing our scientific
knowledge about our world, purifying it of false data that often are
presented as gospel truths, and cultivating the corresponding
attitudes and skills.
We have to always hone up our skills of properly managing
our surroundings, ever thoughtful of how things are developing and
helping everybody else to cultivate the right attitude. In this area,
things can be very challenging. But they are not impossible.
Perhaps, what can still make things perk up is to extend
that ecological sense to include not only climatic and environmental
concerns, but also and more importantly, moral and spiritual
interests.
This part of ecology, let´s remind ourselves, is in fact
the ultimate and most crucial since it goes direct to the very heart
of our human development. In this regard, we have to be most eager to
attain the ability to mirror to everyone around us what is genuinely
true, good and beautiful.
This can be summarized as the ability to mirror the holy,
sanctity being the integrated sum of all these qualities. We create
the most ideal environment when our mind and heart reflect God´s
goodness whatever may be the views, positions and situations we may
have in life.
We have to remember that our mind and heart have God as
their proper, ultimate object, and because of God, also the others.
Our minds and hearts should be filled with thoughts and desires to
please God and the others. This is how we mirror the holy and create a
good environment fit for all of us as children of God.
We would be misusing if not abusing these spiritual powers
of ours if we engage them with something else, especially with our own
interests and concerns alone. Besides, such misuse would most likely
lead to painful divisions.
We should not get lost in our differences and conflicts
with respect to our temporal or earthly affairs. While these
differences and conflicts cannot be avoided, we can always manage to
be good and understanding to one another. This is of course possible
only if we manage to refer things to God.
Of course, we have to do all this with naturalness and
discretion, avoiding attracting unnecessary attention and creating
inhuman ways and lifestyles. Just the same, we should not shy from
this constant effort to emit goodness everywhere.
Christ himself knew how to show his divinity, among
others, through the miracles he performed. But amazing as the miracles
were, he tried to be discreet about them by telling the persons
involved not to announce the miracles to the public but rather to
report to the priests. Of course, we know that many of these people
went out announcing the miracles to all.
In spite of being misunderstood, Christ kept his goodwill
to all, resorting to his righteous anger only when he had to declare
what was morally wrong with the people´s behavior.
The example of St. Paul can also shed light as to how we
ought to mirror the holy. He reached the point of saying that the
people, we, should be followers of him as he was a follower of Christ.
(cfr 1 Cor 11,1)
In another occasion, he boldly told the Thessalonians that
he was giving them a pattern for them to imitate. (2 Thes, 3,9). He
was not ashamed to put himself the model for everyone to follow.
There´s a need to cultivate this attitude. Sad to say,
many succumb to the false sense of humility of not wanting to be a
model of holiness for the others. And yet, irony of ironies, many
crave to be an idol to the others insofar as good looks or fashion or
sport accomplishments are concerned. In these areas, they can be very
daring and shameless.
With all the confusing elements of our modern world, we
have to convince ourselves that we need to mirror the holy, that such
responsibility is not only possible but also practicable, complete
with the sense of modesty we would like to have in fulfilling it.
In a business meeting, for example, where some contentious
issues would be discussed, the duty to mirror the holy can mean having
a firm grip on the emotions so that the discussion can stick to the
essential aspects without getting stranded in the hot incidentals.
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