Saving the salvageable

IT’S an art we have to learn. Especially these days when

what is good can be flooded by an ocean of evil things, we have to

know how to identify that good and try our best to save it and turn it

into an agent to convert evil to good or at least to derive some good

from evil.

  

            Christ himself is the perfect model for this. First, being

God he became man and assumed our sinfulness without committing sin if

only to save us. And he did this by converting the consequences of

sin—our pains and difficulties and death itself—into the very means of

our salvation.

  

            He went to the extent of offering his life on the cross

for us and thus removing the sting of death with his resurrection. We

can say that he was game to this game plan, so to speak.

  

            We should try to have the same attitude toward our life

and the many complicated situations we can find ourselves in. This is

what is actually proper to us. Instead of simply being dominated by

evil, let’s try to find some good in any predicament we have, and turn

it into some kind of reagent to change any bad situation into

something that is morally acceptable.

  

            Christ always looked for what is salvageable in a

situation that is filled with hopelessness. This was dramatized for

example when he talked about the parable of the dishonest steward.

(cfr. Lk 16,1-13)

  

            A steward was about to be dismissed from work, and since

he was afraid he could not find work anymore after being fired, he

curried favour with his master’s debtors by remitting parts of their

debts.

            For what this steward did, Christ praised him, not because

of his dishonesty that clearly is wrong, but because of his astuteness

even if such cleverness was at the immediate service of the steward’s

dishonesty.

  

            Such astuteness has the potential of being used for a good

cause, and so it deserves to be praised. That Christ did not approve

the dishonesty of the steward can be seen when later on in that gospel

episode, he clearly said that “no servant can serve two masters.” (cfr

Lk 16,13)

   

            This attitude was also highlighted when then Pope Benedict

XIII said that the use of condoms may be justified in some special

circumstances. In explaining the papal statement, the then papal

spokesman said:

  

            “The Pope considered an exceptional situation in which the

exercise of sexuality represents a real risk to the lives of others.

In this case, the Pope does not morally justify the exercise of

disordered sexuality, but believes that the use of condoms to reduce

the risk of infection is a 'first step on the road to a more human

sexuality', rather than not to use it and risking the lives of

others."

  

            We need to be astute and clever without losing our

spiritual and moral bearing in dealing with the many issues and

predicaments in our life. That is what Christ also said: “Behold, I am

sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as

serpents and innocent as doves.” (Mt 10,16)

  

            And so we need to be tough and game in this life, not

easily affected and scandalized by the dirt and the evils that are

unavoidable in this life. We have to know how to be patient and

optimistic, no matter how dark and seemingly hopeless a particular

situation may look to us.

  

            We have to sharpen our skill of discerning the moral

qualities of the different situations we can find ourselves in and

that also of making the right judgments. In this we have to help one

another, always praying, reflecting and consulting when necessary.

  

            But we just have to learn how to save the salvageable and

use it for a good purpose or, at least, to start on the road toward

reconciliation with God and others.