New amid the old, fresh amid the stale

WE have to find a way to be able to see the new amid the

old things, the fresh amid the stale. It’s a matter of attitude, of a

state of mind to be able to do this.

  

            If our attitude and thinking is mainly dominated by what

our senses only can discern, then it will not be long before we fall

into boredom and dryness in the things that we seem to be doing

everyday.

             Even if our attitude and thinking is led by some

comprehensive philosophies or ideologies and heavily propped up by the

sophisticated modern sciences, technologies and the arts, it will not

still be long before we fall into the same fate of boredom and

dryness.

  

            These principles and motives can only go so far. They

cannot last long. They cannot bear doing the same things over and over

again everyday, because they cannot see further than what is on hand

at the moment, or even what is simply of worldly value. They are

highly perishable items, with very short prescription period and brief

effectiveness.

  

            It’s the grace of God that does it. It’s when we are

driven with love for God and for others that we can manage to escape

the grip of routine and drudgery that can easily come to us if we

happen to be doing the same things everyday. And for most of us, we

happen to be doing the same things everyday. It’s God’s grace and love

that can transcend the limitations of any earthly interest.

  

            With God’s grace, with love for God and for others,

nothing actually will be the same even if materially, physically,

socially, etc., things appear to be the same. It’s God’s grace, it’s

love for God and for others that will make things new and fresh

always.

  

            That is why many saints and holy men and women through the

ages have always behaved in awe even if they appear to be doing the

same things everyday. They may even be confined to some convents or

monasteries, and yet are fully alive and driven. Some of them even

have extraordinary experiences, like having ecstasies and levitations.

  

            When we are with God’s grace and driven by love for him

and for others, we can experience what is said in the Book of

Revelation, “Behold, I am making all things new.” (21,5) Somehow we

can see how the rock can be turned into a pool, the flint into a

fountain of water. ( cfr. Ps 114,8)

  

            We have to do everything to be vitally engaged with God,

always asking for his grace and developing our love in accordance to

God’s love. That is when we can transcend but not contradict the laws

of nature and be swept away by the spiritual laws of God’s grace and

love.

  

            For this to happen, we need to pray, to cultivate a

recollected and contemplative lifestyle even as we are immersed in the

things of the world. We need to discipline our bodily and human powers

so they don’t hinder but rather facilitate the way of God who makes

all things new.