Monday, October 30, 2017

The new techs as friendly fire

WE need to be amply warned by this danger. Those powerful
new technologies that we have now, that can give us a lot of benefits,
can also become a big threat to our spiritual, moral and even physical
life. They can indeed become a treacherous ally that can turn us in,
or worse, a friendly fire that can kill us spiritually, morally and,
yes, even physically, if not handled properly.

            How many cases are we witnessing of people getting spoiled
and corrupted by the improper use of these technologies? It is truly
heartbreaking to see them dominated and enslaved by these
technologies, falling into all kinds of anomalies, like a certain
addiction, proneness to laziness, idleness, useless and dangerous
curiosities and distractions, and all forms of ego-tripping.

            There are now notorious cases of people wasting time and
energy because of these new technologies. Worse, there are instances
when the new technologies become powerful tools at the instance of
evil and malice. People can easily fall into pornography, for example,
then trapped in it, and proceed to commit all sorts of perversions.
Pieces of evidence for this are aplenty.

            When no clear guiding criteria are used, when we use them
with hardly any sense of discipline and a certain detachment, there
can be no way but for us to succumb to our weaknesses and the many
temptations around.

            And the evil things spawned are not just in the area of
sex, but also in the area of decency, delicacy, good taste and, most
important, charity. How many times have we witnessed and even made to
participate in useless arguments and feuds especially in the social
media? And so, instead of leading us to God and to serve others, we
are led to sin. In the worst scenario, these technologies can generate
vicious cycles.

            But for all that, we cannot deny the objective usefulness
of these new technologies. We should neither ban nor demonize them
just because of some bad potentials they have. What is needed is to
learn how to use them properly.

            I believe there are already initiatives in this regard. We
should take advantage of them and develop and fine-tune them further.
But a very fundamental element in any effort to have dominion over
these new technologies is to infuse them with the spirit of Christ who
taught us to love the cross as a way to deal with our weaknesses,
temptations and sin itself.

            Christ’s cross is the ultimate antidote to all the evils
that we have to contend with in this life. We should try to figure out
how we can be guided by the cross while using the new technologies.
The cross means discipline, detachment, abandonment in God’s
providence rather than relying mainly on what we like, etc.

            We need to concretize these different aspects of the
cross, like: we can give ourselves a time limit in the use of the
Internet, for example, or we should have a clear purpose in using
these new technologies and not just allow ourselves to surf to
wherever.

            Especially, when we are alone, and even more, when we are
already in bed, these gadgets should be a no-no. We have to respect
our need for rest and sleep. There can be a lot more specific
guidelines that can help us.


Saturday, October 28, 2017

Thinking big

 WHILE we have to take care of the little and ordinary
things of the day, we should neither forget that we also have to be
concerned about the big things that can involve us. We have to be wary
of unwittingly being held hostage by our duty towards little things
that can blind us of our duty to aim also at the big and extraordinary
things in life. We should be ready for this call.
  
            Christ himself is the epitome of this attitude. While he
took care of the little details in his dealings with the people, he
saw to it that he never confined himself to these details. Yes, he
cured many people of their illnesses, but made sure that he attended
first to the most important thing—the forgiveness of their sins.
  
            He also did not allow himself to get stuck in a certain
place, but went to other places to preach. In the end, he sent his
apostles to go to the whole world to preach.
  
            Of course, we should not forget that even the very
ordinary and common little things of the day can assume extraordinary
significance if done with great love for God and for others. In this
regard, we should be contented and happy doing the little things even
if they do not give some earthly reward or recognition. That would
indicate the rectitude of intention with which we do them.
  
            Just the same, we should also be ready to tackle the big
and extraordinary duties in our life. Actually, it is when we are
faithful in the little things that we can be prepared to face the big
challenges of life. The little, simple and ordinary things can serve
as training to handle the big, complicated and extraordinary things.
  
            The big, complicated and extraordinary things can be in
the area of managing people, motivating them, charting the course of
one’s career, expanding the network of apostolic work, influencing the
temper of our business and politics, generating employment for many
people, establishing linkages to different sectors, breaking new
grounds in business, etc.
   
            With all the developments taking place at the moment, we
can imagine a lot of opportunities opening up in the near future, and
we should be ready to seize and take advantage of them. We need to
sharpen our skills in observation and perception, creativity and
innovation, flexibility and toughness.
  
            For all this, we have to be willing to make a lot of
prayers and sacrifices, always discerning what the Holy Spirit is
prompting us. We should also be unstinting in our efforts at studying,
researching and experimenting. We have to be sport since definitely we
will encounter not only difficulties but also failures that should not
prevent us from moving on, reinventing ourselves if necessary.
  
            This attitude of toughness and cleverness should not
undermine the simplicity that is also necessary for us. We have to
learn how to be patient and to abandon ourselves in the hands of God
whose providence is ever wise and powerful.

             In thinking big, we should never abandon God at all. On
the contrary, we should always abandon ourselves to him, so that we
don’t get spoiled when we happen to be successful or get depressed
when we fail. We just have to go on, doing a lot of good!


Friday, October 27, 2017

Hopefully heading toward the Good News

LET’S hope that all this discussion about what is real
news as differentiated from fake news would lead us to the conclusion
that the Good News of Christ’s gospel is the real news meant for all
men for all time and for all situations.
  
            It is what should always be proclaimed and upheld as we go
through the different events and issues of our life. It is what
contains the answers to all our questions, the solutions to all our
problems including the humanly insoluble ones. It is what gives
meaning and purpose to everything in our life. It is what relates
everything to God, our Creator and Father, our source and end.
   
            No amount of academic and intelligent discussion about
this issue can really help us to distinguish fake news from real news
if God, the gospel and everything the gospel teaches, like charity,
sincerity, justice, mercy, compassion, etc., are marginalized. Without
God, we would be left with a very limited and even subjective view of
reality.
  
            We need to overcome the bias that in our temporal and
mundane affairs any appeal to God and to religion is out of place.
Quite the contrary is true. With God at the center, we would know how
to discover, pursue, affirm and defend the truth in charity. Without
God, we would just be left to our own devices, our own
rationalizations.
   
            Let’s remember that God is the source of all truth. That’s
why Christ said, “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My
voice.” (Jn 18,37) And that’s because Christ is the Son of God who
became man to redeem us. As such, he is the fullness of the revelation
of God, of the Truth, to all of us!
  
            And what would happen if we put God aside in the pursuit
of truth and enlightenment in our earthly discussions? Let’s quote
some words of St. Paul to give us an idea of would like take place.
  
            “Whoever teaches something different and does not agree
with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the religious
teaching,” he said, “is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a
morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes.
  
            “From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions,
and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds, who are
deprived of the truth, supposing religion to be a means of gain.”
(1Tim 6,3-4)

              I consider these Pauline words as spot-on in describing
the toxic environment we have at the moment in the fields of politics
especially, and also of the media.

             We need to remember that if not inspired by the Good News
of Christ’s gospel, any piece of news cannot be part of the Good News.
It can only be a fake news, driven by worldly and suspicious motives.
If not inspired by the charity of God, then any fact, data or opinion,
no matter how objective and fair-sounding, cannot achieve the status
of the truth, since truth and charity are inseparable.

             Again let’s hope that the futility of our discussion of
issues without God at the center can lead us to the realization that
only with God can we be in the truth. It’s only with God can we have
real news and fair opinions.


Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Everything can be an occasion

FOR anything, that is. Since we are intelligent and free
beings, we can turn everything in our life into an occasion for good
or evil. But if we have the proper understanding of the purpose of our
life here on earth, we should realize that everything can be and
should be an occasion to know, love and serve God, or to pursue
holiness.

              Thus, whether in the twists and turns of our life we can
be considered as heroes or villains, winners or losers, successful or
failing, we have to always remember that we are all called to become
saints.
  
            And the nice thing about this is that all the events and
conditions in our life, in all their vast variety, can precisely be
turned into occasions to attain a degree of sanctity. Everything is
relatable to God. It’s a matter of how to react to them—whether we
react with faith and trust in God or we simply react in a purely human
way, reliant only on our human powers.
  
            We need to understand that all our human conditions,
whether good or bad, big or small, extraordinary or ordinary, etc.,
have already been covered by Christ’s redemptive life and do have the
potential to lead us to him. Even our mistakes and failures can lead
us to God.
  
            If our status is considered as humanly good, then let’s be
thankful to God, remain humble and focus on sharing as widely as
possible whatever good we have. If our status is otherwise, then let’s
turn to God just the same, perhaps asking for mercy, for more
blessing, and just try to be patient in going through unavoidable
inconveniences of the condition.
  
            We have to learn to see the hand of God behind every event
and circumstance of our life. We have to learn to discern his will and
the directions he is showing us through them. There’s always a reason
for everything in our life. And God knows how to make use of it.
  
            We should not be distracted from doing what is truly
essential in life, irrespective of the circumstances. This is the only
thing necessary in our life. All the others are the peripherals, the
instruments and the occasions to achieve this one thing necessary.
  
            Let’s remember that God is always around, his providence
is abiding, his interventions in our life are actually constant. We
just have to be more aware of this truth of our faith and correspond
to it as fully as possible.
  
            God can always derive something good even from our
mistakes. What is impossible to us is always possible to him. He can
write straight with crooked lines.
  
            Thus, St. Paul tells us: “Whether you eat or drink or
whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Cor 10,31) This
is what we have to learn to do always. Especially now when our world
is getting increasingly complicated, generating a lot of problems,
differences and conflicts among ourselves, this frame of mind is
getting more and more relevant.
  
            The good thing about all this is that we can remain calm
and more focused on what we are supposed to be doing. We will always
find meaning in everything, whether we are up or down in our earthly
condition.



Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Inspiring and motivating

THESE, I believe, are what are involved in educating and
forming the youth. Of course, we have to use all the necessary human
means, like giving classes and conducting exams, giving them talks,
suggestions and even corrections.

             But we should not forget that what truly matters is to
inspire and to motivate them. That’s because these go directly to the
soul of the individuals where the radical transformation and
development of a person takes place. It’s in the spiritual sphere
where the real action takes place.
  
            This can mean many things. For one, we should be available
to them as long and as often as necessary. We need to spend time with
them and cultivate real friendship and bonding. Given the way the
young people usually behave, we should be willing to ‘waste’ time with
them and to adapt ourselves to their language and ways. I am sure it
will be all worthwhile. It’s good investment.
  
            We have to give them good example in a consistent manner
all the time. Giving example is the best teacher. Just the same, we
should be ready and clear to tell or show them something to edify
them. There’s definitely a need for continuing catechesis so that true
values proper to our human and Christian dignity can slowly and
steadily sink in.
  
            We need to enter into their mind and heart, imparting with
gift of tongue the truths of our faith with respect to life in
general. This would include forming the proper attitude toward
religion, toward family and work, use of time, human sexuality,
virtues like hard work, order, prudence, humility, etc.
   
            The right strategies have to be employed, considering how
each person is—his temperament and character, his intellectual and
emotional capacity, his social and economic status, etc.
  
            We need to be quick to identify the problem areas in their
life. Many of these young people bear many doubts in their mind. They
lack self-esteem and often are unsure of their judgments and
decisions. There can be a lot of inconsistency in the many aspects of
life. Definitely, the unity of life is not yet there. It still has to
be developed.
   
            We have to teach them how to deal with their problems,
difficulties, challenges, temptations, failures and sins. Of course,
it goes without saying also that they need to be taught how to handle
their victories and successes. The young people usually over-react to
these events in their lives.
  
            We should also be quick to discern the potentials they
have. Each one, for sure, is born with some innate qualities that need
to be developed and actualized to the full. With respect to this, it
is important that we help them discover the concrete vocation each of
them has. This matter is very crucial because it is fundamental in
life, one that affects all the aspects of one’s life.
  
            This will definitely require a lot of effort and patience,
something whose source can ultimately come from God. Thus, we should
be generous in our prayers and sacrifices, study of the doctrine,
growing in the virtues and active in our own ascetical struggles,
recourse to the sacraments, etc. This is because we cannot give what
we do not have.
   
            Let’s hope that one day all of us who have young people
under our care be good and competent inspirers and motivators!


Monday, October 23, 2017

An encounter with Christ

THAT’S what Christian life is all about. It’s actually
meeting him and following him as best as we can. It’s not just a
matter of acting on an idea or a theory, no matter how good and
‘holy-sounding’ an idea and a theory are. It’s engaging with Christ in
vivo, dealing with him live.
  
            That we can meet Christ live is no gratuitous, baseless
presumption. Whether we like it or not, believe in it or not, the fact
is that Christ told his apostles that “I am with you always, to the
very end of the age.” (Mt 28,20)
  
            He is actually everywhere, because he is not only man but
also God in the first place. As God he is omnipresent, not only in a
passive way, but in a most active way. We just have to learn to adapt
ourselves to this assertion of Christ by exercising our faith.
   
            It may also be pointed out that we would find ourselves
most of the time awkward and unprepared to always be with Christ. Some
of us may even say that having Christ with us always would undermine
our identity and our privacy, etc.
  
            We should not worry so much about these apprehensions
because Christ, for his part, will always understand us no matter how
we are and is all too willing to adapt himself to us.
  
            Let’s not forget that he gives special attention to the
weak, the sick and the lost. He is very compassionate with them. For
our sake, he made himself like sin without committing sin. He has
borne all our sins by dying on the cross. He came not to condemn but
to save us.
  
            We can say that he is most lenient with us. But at the
same time, he is also most strict, because he himself said that if we
want to follow him, we have to deny ourselves, carry the cross and
then follow him.
  
            We just have to do our best to make these two seemingly
contrary attitudes of Christ toward us compatible with each other.
These contrasts are due to the tension between our nature and the
supernatural goal we are asked to aim at. They are made sharper by the
consequences of our sin that produces a tension between the unnatural
and the supernatural.
   
            If we just try to be as simple and humble as the apostles
and the other disciples of Christ, we can manage to live with this
tension without much worry. Christ will always understand us and will
take the initiative to make things attainable by us.
  
            The important thing is to have a living encounter with
Christ. This can be done if we exercise our faith to the fullest,
taking care of its fundamental requirements like studying the doctrine
of our faith, getting to know the details of Christ’s life and
redemptive work by habitually reading the gospel, availing of a
certain plan that would keep our piety alive in all situations.
  
            The important thing is to exert the effort and to try our
best, even if our best can always be better and even if we can
continue to make mistakes along the way. As long as we continue to
move on, learning how to begin and begin again, as often as necessary,
then Christ can be alive in us and we can manage to follow him.
  
            In the end, we can hope that where he is, we can also be,
as he himself promised and assured us.


Saturday, October 21, 2017

The go-bag of charity

WE are now living in very exciting times. On the one hand,
we have many developments taking place, offering us with increasing
challenges and opportunities. If we are ready for them, we can
actually take advantage of them.

            On the other hand, we are experiencing a growing number of
disasters and calamities—storms of unusually elevated categories,
earthquakes, fire, terrorism, etc. We should also be ready for them,
and always have by our side what is known as a go-bag, that contains
the bare necessities for survival during emergency situations.

            But I would say that we should always have a more
important kind of go-bag, one that is kept in our heart and soul and
is filled not with material, perishable things, but with love, which
is the only important thing in our life, the only imperishable item
that can bring us to our ultimate and definitive home.

            Make no mistake about it! This is the indispensable bag
that we should carry wherever we are, including when we are on our bed
sleeping. This should not be a problem, because this bag hardly weighs
anything. It is as light as light itself, because in fact it is not
something that we carry, but rather something that we truly are, that
is, that it marks our ultimate identity.

            Everyday, we have to see to it that this bag is not left
behind, but rather becomes more and more united, if not identified
with us. And that’s because it is not just a bag that carries
something, but rather a bag that is each one of us, created and meant
for charity, for loving God and everybody else the way Christ loves
us. We are meant to be a bag of charity, and not just a bag of bones
or of some material things.

            In our daily affairs, let’s see to it that the things we
handle, the concerns, challenges, issues and opportunities we face
would not diminish, but rather would enhance our love for God and for
others.

            This is not something impossible to do. It is very doable,
first of all because God will always give us the grace for it. And if
we correspond to that grace, we will see that our worldly and temporal
affairs, including our problems and failures, are the means and
occasions for loving. Everything, as we are told by St. Paul in his
Letter to the Romans, will always work for the good as long as we are
with God always.

            Every so often, let us examine ourselves if that go-bag
filled with charity is truly what we have and who we are. In that way,
we would not be afraid of anything, not even of death. And we can be
in a better condition to do many more good things, which is really
what matters in life. The goodness of our life is not measured by
wealth, health, power, fame and the like. It is measured by love,
period!

            It is love that brings us to heaven. It is what goes
beyond the limits of space and time and leads us to the eternal life
with God. Again, we have to examine ourselves regularly if that go-bag
is truly with us!


Friday, October 20, 2017

Playing offense and defense

THIS is about the virtue of fortitude, one of the cardinal
virtues from which spring many other virtues. It’s a virtue that we
all should cultivate since it is necessary as we plod through the
tricky waters of this world.

            It involves both aggression and protection. We have to
learn how to pursue some arduous good without fear and let-up but
avoiding rashness, as well as how to bear the unavoidable difficulties
and evils along the way without giving up. Thus, it involves both
action and patience, offense and defense.

            We should not forget that in this life, whether we like it
or not, aware of it or not, we are involved in some kind of lifelong
warfare. Our heart is always an arena for the battle of good and evil.

            That is why we always have to make some kind of strategy
to see if we are keeping the right combination of offense and defense
in our spiritual life. Everyday, we have to go through some kind of
accounting to monitor how we are living and continually developing
this virtue as we have to cope with the changing challenges and
opportunities in life.

            We should not take this concern for granted, simply
abandoning ourselves to fate or to a blind adherence to God’s
providence without us making due effort to be truly responsible in
shaping our life. This would be what is called as fatalism, an
improper and exaggerated understanding of the spirit of abandonment.

            This unconcern, as we all know, is quite common. We have
to overcome it, helping one another to develop the proper attitude and
skills in playing offense and defense in our spiritual life which is a
matter of growing in love for God and others through the events of our
daily life.

            A good means to do this is to make a habit of making a
regular examination of conscience everyday. In this way, we practice
accountability of what God has given us and of what he expects from
us. We are in this life for a clear God-given purpose. We should not
get distracted, much less, diverted from this objective of our life.

            With regular examination of conscience, we would somehow
know if we are gaining or losing ground in our spiritual life, or if
we are winning or losing in our ascetical struggles to develop virtues
and to avoid sin, if there is growth and progress or stagnation and
regression in the long and short-runs of our specific spiritual
battles.

            With regular examination of conscience, we would have a
sense of continuity and direction in our spiritual life. We would be
encouraged to put some goals to reach, some standards to measure our
performance, some deadlines to meet. In other words, we would have a
guide to help us, some structure and road map to show us the way.

            It’s about time that the means we seriously use to be
effective in our mundane activities be also used in our spiritual and
moral affairs. We cannot afford to be casual and dismissive in the
development of our spiritual life.

            With regular examination of conscience, we can make the
necessary adjustments to adapt to the changing situations and
circumstances. It gives us a sense of confidence that is so necessary
if we want to be effective in reaching our ultimate goal, which is
nothing less than our own sanctification.

            With regular examination of conscience, we develop a
culture that is responsive to the fundamental needs and purpose of our
life.