Monday, June 19, 2017

Eager to intercede

YES, we need to be eager and quick to help others. We
should never be indifferent to the needs of others even if we have our
own needs and predicaments. Actually, our attitude of interceding for
others has a way of resolving or at least of giving some relief to our
own problems and difficulties.

            Our own problems and difficulties should not be a
hindrance in our eagerness to intercede for the others. In fact, we
should make use of our own predicaments to spur us to get more
involved in the lives of others. By so doing, we would actually
simplify our life, not complicate it.

            We very likely would ask, how can that be when we already
are burdened by our own problems? And the answer can be that this
outlook in life and attitude to our problems can be the practical
application of what Christ himself said and encouraged us to do:
“Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses
their life for me will find it.” (Mt 16,25)

            The same divine logic can be found in these other words of
Christ: “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed
down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your
bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be
measured to you again.” (Lk 6,38)

            Our eagerness to intercede for others should be based on
our faith and love for God. It should never be a product of mere human
calculations. We have to follow what Christ has taught and shown us.

            To be sure, we always have the capacity to intercede
because even if we can be very limited in helping others materially,
our capacity to help others spiritually is unlimited. We can always
pray for them, offer sacrifices for them. That’s the least that we can
do for others but also the most indispensable.

            We have to remind ourselves of the great truth of faith
that we actually form one family, the family of God. Through the truth
of our faith called the communion of saints, we are vitally united
with one another here on earth, with those in heaven as well as with
those still purifying themselves in purgatory.

            We need to feel responsible for one another, asking the
effective intercession of those already triumphant in heaven and
generously helping those still in purgatory. And with those still
struggling here on earth, we need to be pro-active in reaching out to
all, including those who may not like us for one reason or another.

            We need to train ourselves and form our mind and heart to
immediately be mindful and thoughtful of them, getting to know them
better, empathizing with them, helping bear with their burdens,
whatever they may be.

            As said earlier, we can always pray for them and offer
sacrifices for them. In this way, we reflect the very redemptive life
of Christ and assume his sentiments of love, compassion and mercy. We
approach the ideal of our life which is to be “alter Christus,”
another Christ!


No comments: