Let’s be quick on the rebound

WITH the wall of difficulties we are facing these days because of COVID, we have to see to it that we are quick on the rebound. We cannot simply be complacent, much less, defeatist or fatalist in our attitude toward our current predicament. There is always a rebound and we should be ready to seize it fast. 

 Again, let’s be guided by our faith that actually gives us a global picture of everything in our earthly life—its ups and downs, its twists and turns. Our Christian faith tells us that every crisis actually gives us a new opening, a new opportunity for growth and development, and that everything works for the good. (cfr. Rom 8,28) There’s always hope! God’s providence is always at work. 

 We should just stir up our sense of creativity and resourcefulness to take advantage of whatever opening and opportunity some obstacles and setback would actually offer. But it should be a sense of creativity and resourcefulness that is inspired by our faith, hope and charity in God and in everyone else. 

 Offhand, we can already see, thanks be to God, some signs of creativity and resourcefulness around. Some people are diversifying their business to adapt it to the new conditions. Others are learning new skills to tackle the new challenges. Many are trying their best to avoid getting simply trapped in the state of worry and sadness. 

 But just as we should be quick on the rebound in our attack mode, we should also be quick in our defense, to stall the enemies of our soul to take advantage of the rebound. We have to learn how to quickly steal the ball from them. 

 In this, some word of Christ can serve as a dire warning. It’s in the gospel of St. Matthew where we hear Christ saying: “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, I will return into my house where I came from; and when he comes, he finds it empty, swept and garnished. 

 “Then he goes and takes with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there. And the last state of that man is worse than the first…” (12,43-45) 

 These words are especially addressed to those people who have managed to have some radical conversion, expelling whatever demonic influence that they had been subjected to. They should see to it that they should never let their guard down. They should always be on the alert. 

 It’s a given that whenever we get closer to God, whenever we make some progress in our spiritual life, we would also become a favorite target of the enemies of our soul. And the state of vigilance and alertness expected of us should not scare us since God will always provide all the means and resources we need, as long as we stay close to him. God will never fail us. It’s rather us who can fail him. 

 So, we should do our part—praying always, doing everything in God’s presence, purifying our intentions, availing of the sacraments, waging a continuing struggle to develop virtues and quell temptations, etc. 

 We should do all this with a great sense of confidence. Again, this can only happen if we live firmly by our faith.