WITH
the many and rapid developments going around, we
should see to it that we are always on the alert, lest we
can easily
get lost, lulled with all sorts of nice things down the
road to
perdition. This is not to be a wet blanket, nor to be a
paranoid. This
is just common sense.
More
importantly, this is to follow what St. Peter has
advised us: “Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary
the devil
prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to
devour. Resist
him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge
that your
brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same
kinds of
suffering…” (1 Pt 5,8-9)
We
should not be naïve. While the new developments, like
the new technologies, can offer us a lot of advantages,
facilities and
conveniences, we should remember that they also come with
potential
dangers that require stiffer prudential measures.
These
new developments and technologies can stir up latent
weaknesses that we, up to now, may not be aware of. They
can occasion
all kinds of disorder, like wasting time, falling into
laziness,
complacency, unregulated curiosities, frivolity, envy,
greed, lust,
anger, etc., etc. They can cause a certain kind of
addiction that is
hard to control.
With
these new developments that clearly show progress in
our technological capabilities, we are expected, nay,
required also to
progress in our virtues of order, prudence, humility,
self-discipline,
sincerity and transparency, etc. Otherwise, there is no
way but to be
swallowed up by what may be described as “sweet poison.”
Most
especially, with these new developments and
technologies we are required to radically rectify our
intentions. We
should see to it that all we do should be clearly for the
glory of
God. (cfr. 1 Cor 10,31) We cannot take this requirement
for granted,
giving it only a lick and a promise.
All
other motives, like our interest to know more things,
to reach out to more people, to get ahead in life, etc.,
should be
subordinated and inspired by the ultimate motive of
giving glory to
God, of loving him with everything we are and we have,
and of loving
everyone else the way Christ loves us. (cfr. Jn 13,34)
Otherwise, we
would be trapped in our own world of self-indulgence.
We
really should have a good inventory of our strengths
and weaknesses, so we would know how to behave properly
and be guarded
and protected, as we go through this new phase of our
life’s drama
with the new developments around.
With
our strengths, let us see to it that we manage to
grow in love for God and others as we pursue our temporal
and mundane
affairs in the context of these new developments. Our
strengths or
assets should not be used only for self-interest.
With
our weaknesses, let us put the necessary measures to
protect us from falling into them. Our weaknesses may be
in the area
of pride, greed, lust, envy, laziness, etc., and we
should put the
appropriate defenses, using both the spiritual and
supernatural means
as well as the human means.
We
should always be on guard. Let’s remember that our life
can be regarded as always in the state of war and
struggle, since the
forces of good and evil will always be around. For this,
we need to
regularly examine our conscience, to see if our spiritual
and moral
life is in order or not, is healthy or not, is growing or
deteriorating. And from there, let’s make the appropriate
plans and
strategies.
As in
any war and struggle, there is the offensive mode as
well as the defensive one. We need to equip ourselves
properly to take
on our need to grow and cover more areas spiritually and
morally as
well as to protect ourselves from harm. And if we happen
to fall into
harm’s way, we should know what to do.
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