We are all interconnected

WE need to be more aware of this reality so that we both

can enjoy its rights and privileges and fulfill the duties inherent in

it. Truth is no matter how isolated we are physically, mentally or

emotionally, we are all interconnected for the most basic reason that

we belong to the same world, the same universe, the same creation of

God.

            If we believe that God our creator is intelligence and

love himself, then we can presume that he must have created the whole

universe with an over-all single and consistent design with each

creature somehow related to everybody and everything else.

            We may not see the interconnection clearly but we can

already have some clues and hints of it by the way we want to live

some semblance of law and order in our lives. If we have that innate

desire, it is because there must be a pre-ordained interconnection

among all the creatures of this world, with us, being the image and

likeness of God, exercising a leading role in living, developing and

keeping that interconnection.

            This is the reason why we have to be always thoughtful of

God and of others, and in fact, of everything else. We just should not

be thinking of ourselves only. We have to realize that our growth to

maturity depends on how much we are thoughtful of God and of the

others and how we fulfill our duties towards them.

            And because of our interconnectivity, we have to realize

that whatever we do or whatever condition or status we can find

ourselves in, will always have an effect on the others. No matter how

isolated or separated we are from the others, we can always affect

them either in a good or a bad way depending on how we are in a given

moment.

            That is why even if we are alone and doing some work, we

can still affect the others in a positive way if we offer that work

for the intention of the others and doing that work well. What we do

alone never remains with us only. It will always affect the lives of

others.

            In this regard, it might be good also to know about the

doctrine of our faith called “communion of saints.” The Catechism

describes it in this way: “Since all the faithful form one body, the

good of each is communicated to the others…

            “We must therefore believe that there exists a communion

of goods in the Church. But the most important member is Christ, since

he is the head…Therefore, the riches of Christ are communicated to all

the members, through the sacraments. As this Church is governed by one

and the same Spirit, all the goods she has received necessarily become

a common fund.” (CCC 947)

            This is a tremendous reality, a truth of our faith, that

should give us tremendous joy. It should fill us with a lot of

confidence in the goodness of God in spite of all the trials,

challenges, temptations and sins we have in this world.

            At the same time, we have to sharply feel the

responsibility we have of keeping this communion of saints going by

availing ourselves of what they can give us and of doing our part in

strengthening it.

            We can strengthen it by uniting ourselves more and more

with Christ, the source, pattern and power of all this communion, and

doing everything as best that we can because of him.

            As we have been saying, what we do out of love for God

even in a hidden and isolated way will redound to the good of

everyone. We should be generous then in this duty of loving God and

uniting ourselves more and more with Christ in the Holy Spirit, so we

can contribute greatly for the good of everyone!