At the receiving end

THAT’S what we have to be prepared for. If we are to

follow Christ seriously, if we are to be consistent in our pursuit for

holiness, then let’s be prepared to be at the receiving end of all

forms of evil in this world.

            Christ himself practically said it. When he articulated

the beatitudes, we are given the idea that to be blessed, we should be

ready to be poor in spirit, to mourn, to be insulted, persecuted and

accused of all kinds of evil falsehoods, etc. (cfr. Mt 5,3-11)

            In spite of these evils, we should not waver in living

charity with those who may offend us. Christ explicitly said that we

have to love our enemies, to do good to them that hate us and pray for

those who persecute and calumniate us. This is how we are going to be

identified as children of God who makes his sun to rise upon the good

and bad, the rain on the just and the unjust.

            We then have to learn how to hold our horses, avoiding

those reflex reactions that are only driven by raw instincts and that

fail to capture a more global, faith-enlightened significance of any

event. Even more, we have to avoid falling into hatred. And we have to

be careful with our anger, because even if it can be regarded as

righteous, our anger usually deteriorates into hatred.

            While Christ assured us that a great reward awaits us in

heaven if we live the beatitudes, there are actually many other

practical advantages we can enjoy if we get to be at the receiving end

of all worldly evils.

            For one, we can think and react better if we remain calm

and stick to the ways of patience and charity. To be misunderstood,

insulted, persecuted, etc., is a given in this life. We should not

make a big fuss about it anymore.

            Our focus should just be how to proclaim the truth in

charity, and vice-versa, how to live charity in the truth. And this

would require a lot of calm thinking. It’s not that we should be

stoic, killing off our feelings, emotions and passions. But these

latter elements should function at the instance of right thinking that

in its turn should be enlightened by our faith and warmed by charity.

            There should be no bitterness in our thoughts, judgments

and reactions. This is not easy to do, of course. But we can always

try, and ask for God’s grace to help us in this department.

            Besides, when we manage to stay calm and charitable, we

create a better atmosphere that would be more conducive to have a more

constructive dialogue and relationship among ourselves amid our

differences and conflicts. Charity always conquers evil. The

forcefulness of goodness always prevails over the vehemence of evil.

            Of course, to be at the receiving end always is no joke.

It definitely will be painful physically, mentally, emotionally, etc.

But if united with the suffering of Christ, that condition will be

meaningful and even gratifying.

            It would strengthen our spiritual life which is what

really matters in this life. Our perspective and outlook in life

broadens and deepens. We would well be on the road to that “mature

manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,”

that St. Paul talked about. (Eph 4,13)

            Again, we have to learn to hold our horses. We should just

allow ourselves to be misunderstood and mistreated. If we have the

chance, we can always clarify things, but always in the ways of

charity in the truth.

            The desire for revenge and to get even should be shunned!