Common sense is not enough

WHILE we always have to use it, we have to understand that
we just cannot be completely guided by common sense, or what some
people refer to as “what comes naturally.” Our common sense would not
be enough to cope with all the situations and issues we can encounter
in life.

            Especially these days when things are getting increasingly
complicated, we need to see to it that we are adequately equipped to
tackle the challenges of the times. There are many developments taking
place from all sides, political, economic, social, technological,
etc., and we just have to know how to grapple with them with some
degree of competence.

            We cannot be indifferent to these developments. Rather we
should feel a great responsibility to direct the course of these
developments in a way that is proper to our dignity as persons and as
children of God. We are supposed to be masters of time and history.

            Now that we are facing powerful ideological forces that
are not anymore shy in admitting to be godless, we have to know how to
have a handle on this very exciting situation.

            No, we cannot solely rely on our common sense simply
because it only has a limited range of capabilities. It usually can
cope with situations that only require instinctive reactions or those
with which we are already most familiar and that call for more or less
routine responses only.

            And though we can enrich it, as we should, as we go along
in life, we have to understand that our common sense is by nature
subjective and highly relative. It comes as a result of our exposure
to the different things in life and our experiences, and is
conditioned by our upbringing, our temperament, our social and
cultural milieu, etc. That’s why what is commonsensical to one may not
be so to another.

            Besides, our common sense usually cannot penetrate into
the more subtle, complex things in life, and much less, the spiritual
and supernatural aspects. The ideal, of course, is to have our common
sense already completely infused with the impulses of faith, hope and
charity, but that will always be a lifelong quest, requiring heroic
efforts.

            We need to overcome our tendency to simply rely on our
common sense. Without, of course, ignoring it, we need to go beyond
it. We should not make it the status quo of our thinking.

            We have to study and take up the lifelong journey of
knowing more and more things, especially the doctrine of our faith
that in the end is the ultimate source of knowledge for us, of what is
good and proper to us, of what would bring us to our ultimate end, our
eternal life.

            Thus, we have to realize that our thinking, judging and
reasoning should be theological. That is to say, it should not be
simply be based on what we see, feel, understand with our reason
alone. It should always consider the inputs of faith.

            This means that we have to be reflective in our thoughts
and reactions. We have to overcome our tendency simply to be
spontaneous and driven only by the impulses of our instincts, emotions
and tentative understanding of things.

            There is a need to study the truths of our faith,
meditating on them and figuring out, perhaps with the help of a
spiritual director, how these truths can be incarnated in our
attitudes, thoughts, intentions, words, feelings and emotions, and
actions. The ideal would be if these truths of our faith become the
very instincts of our behaviour.

            Let us enrich our common sense with these truths. That is
why it would be good if together with the mundane concerns all of us
have, we would know how to incorporate in our daily, weekly, monthly
schedules, etc., a plan for continuing formation, involving time to
study, to pray and meditate, and to attend to some means of formation.

            Then let us develop virtues which will always be an
ongoing affair for us. We can never say we are virtuous enough. As St.
Augustine once said, the moment we say enough, we would already have
retrogressed in our spiritual and moral life.

            Let us be clear about this need, and avoid a cavalier
attitude toward it, something that, sad to say, is rampant nowadays,
even among those who can be considered as highly educated.

            Let’s take this as a very personal concern that we ought
to share with the others, especially within the family, and then with
friends, relatives, colleagues, etc. Let’s raise our common sense to
the level of faith, hope and charity.

Joseph and dreams

SOMEHOW, the name of Joseph reminds us of dreams. We have
Joseph, the son of Jacob, in the Old Testament, and St. Joseph, the
foster father of Jesus, in the New Testament, both of whose lives were
shaped by dreams.

            In the case of Joseph, the son of Jacob, his brothers
branded him as a dreamer out of envy. He told them of a dream about
his sheaf of crop standing out and those of his brothers bowed down to
his. Also, he dreamt of the sun, moon, and 11 stars bowing down to
him, which further stirred the envy of his brothers.

            This was later on realized when even Jacob and Joseph’s
brothers had to bow down to him, already as a governor of Egypt who
was in charge of dispensing grain during the time of famine. This part
of the story of Joseph is most moving, it shows his magnanimity and
how good a person he was in spite of the grave injustice inflicted on
him by own brothers.

            It was also because of dreams that Joseph, who was earlier
sold as a slave by own brothers, managed to gain favor from the
Egyptian ruler and later rose to be a big man there. And that’s
because he convincingly interpreted the dreams of the baffled and
disturbed pharaoh.

            It was when the great famine struck and all people had to
go to Egypt that the famous words, “Ite ad Ioseph,” (Go to Joseph, and
do whatever he tells you), were uttered by the Egyptian pharaoh who
already trusted Joseph and gave him charge of the affairs and concerns
of the land.

           Somehow the Old Testament Joseph prefigures the New
Testament St. Joseph. Like the former, the latter also had dreams that
shaped his life. He was clarified about his vocation and mission in
life through a dream. Like the former, the latter also had to go to
Egypt because of the rampage of killing of the innocents.


           And just as the former received the homage of his own
father and brothers, the latter now is revered by the Christian
faithful all over the world. And just as the former took care of the
affairs and concerns of Egypt, the latter took care of Jesus and Mary,
and now of the whole Church.

            We can only wish that we have dreams like those of the two
Josephs. This should be part of our constant prayers. Even if we
should not pay much attention to our dreams, since they are beyond our
control, we should realize that dreams somehow play an important role
of our life. They can tell us many things about ourselves, and about
others also, and still many other things.

            We have to know how to handle them, when to take them
seriously and when not. The proper and basic attitude, I think, is not
to be afraid of them and to remain calm, especially when they are
distressing. We should also bring them to our prayers, always asking
for light from God.

            Yes, dreams can express the content of our subconscious
mind and heart, our fears, hidden desires and pent-up emotions. When
this is the case, it can only mean that we have to improve on our
integrity and simplicity, our unity of life, resolving with the grace
of God and our efforts whatever inner contradictions we harbor in our
hearts, especially the tension between our spirit and our wounded
flesh.



            We may have to make some consultations with appropriate
persons like priests and spiritual counselors, etc. In this, we have
to practice utmost prudence and remain calm.

            But let’s pray that we have dreams of the entertaining
type too—song-and-dance routines, adventures, comical skits, a little
suspense and drama, etc. This would somehow indicate we are ok,
healthy, etc. Let’s thank God for them.

            But most especially, let’s ask God that our dreams be like
those of the two Josephs, that is, that we have dreams that are
vehicles of God’s will and messages for us.

           These are dreams that help us discover our true vocation,
that somehow portend the future to us, that make us more in love with
God and with everybody else. These are dreams that though involving
some sacrifices, would make us happy and at peace.

            Now that we have this holy craze of the devotion to the
sleeping St. Joseph, let’s approach this holy patriarch and ask him
that we have dreams like his. I am sure that he is too willing to
oblige us. From heaven, his intercessions will always be effective.

Be parents to the full

PARENTS are, of course, crucial in family life and the

upbringing of children. After all, they are the ones who beget
children and form a family. In the long run, they are crucial in the
development of society, the world and the Church. Everything has to be
done for them to perform their duties to the full.

            As begetters of children, they cooperate with God in the
creation of their offsprings. That’s why they are called procreators.
As such, they actually are the first link that their children have
with God, and the first ones to have authority over them, an authority
that is a sharing of the authority that God has over all mankind.

            Let’s remember what St. Paul said in his Letter to the
Ephesians—that all paternity in heaven and earth is named after the
Father of Christ, God himself. (cfr. 3,14-15)

            I am sure that our common sense could readily believe
that, since where or whom else can any authority here on earth come
from? It just cannot be of our own making. Our parenthood, our
authority over the children, our responsibility toward them cannot be
other than a vital participation of the fatherhood of God over all
mankind.

            This is a basic truth about parenthood that should not be
lost to the progenitors, nor taken for granted. It has implications
and consequences that actually condition all the other duties of
parenthood.

            We should not trivialize our parenthood and limit it to
its biological aspect alone, nor to its social or cultural aspects,
etc. Our parenthood over the children should reflect and cover as much
as we can the fatherhood of God over all of us.

            This is where we can approach the fullness of parenthood.
It would be good if parents can meditate more on this basic truth so
as to draw practical resolutions that can guide them in a daily basis.

            That’s why I was happy to read from St. John Paul II’s
apostolic exhortation, Familiaris consortio, the following words:
“Through the witness of their lives, parents are the first heralds of
the Gospel for their children.

            “Furthermore, by praying with their children, by reading
the word of God with them and by introducing them deeply through
Christian initiation into the Body of Christ—both the Eucharistic and
the ecclesial Body—they become fully parents, in that they are
begetters not only of the bodily life but also of the life that
through the Spirit’s renewal flows from the Cross and Resurrection of
Christ.” (n.39)

            Parents should understand this most important aspect of
parenthood, and should organize their married and family life in such
a way as to give due priority to this responsibility. May they know
how to properly blend the pressing and the precious concerns, the
short-term and the long-term goals, the incidental and the essential
aspects of family life.

            It would be good if time and effort is spent to translate
this ideal into a practical plan that is effective in the daily life
of the family. I am sure that with a proper intention and will in this
regard, and availing of all the subsidiary help provided by schools,
parishes and other groups, this task can be facilitated.

            There are many aspects of parenting that need to be
integrated and inspired by the proper spirit. To mention a few,
parents should know, for example, what to do when their children are
still infants, toddlers, adolescents, young adults and mature persons.

            They have to be aware of the distinctive needs each age
would have, the possible dangers and the new horizons each child may
be introduced to as he or she passes from one stage to another. In
this, we have to aim at nothing less than competence and expertise.

            At this time when things are getting very complex and
complicated, the task of parenthood can be very challenging as well
and should not be taken for granted. There should be more effort
invested to see how parenthood can be effective and lived to the full.

            In short, the art of parenthood should somehow be
professionalized, with continuing scientific studies and monitoring of
relevant developments being made, and sustained by prayers, sacrifices
and the other elements of a vibrant piety.

            What is crucial is the cooperation of everyone, and a
great amount of sacrifice, even to the point of heroism, because a lot
of thankless efforts really have to be exerted here.

            It’s good that aside from what are done in the diocesan
and parochial levels, there are now private initiatives getting
involved in this universal concern.