When in a crisis

DEFINITELY, when we are in some especially difficult

situation like what we are having nowadays with the coronavirus

pandemic, we should band together, close ranks and help one another in

any way we can.

            Everyone, from those in position of government to the

lowest citizen of the community, should care for one another. Our

differences and conflicts in some issues should take a backseat, at

least temporarily. They can be attended to at some other time. Like in

the hospitals when there are just too many patients seeking attention

and admission, we have to do some triage.

            When our very own life, health and survival of our society

are under threat, let’s work together to tackle the problem together,

and avoid bickering, complaining, fault-finding and the other

etceteras of negative activities among ourselves.

            If we notice certain aspects of the problem to be

disregarded or are given inadequate attention, then let’s bring them

out to the proper authorities. But this should be done always in the

proper tone, with great delicacy albeit with utter clarity, especially

when the matter involved is considered urgent.

            But if we ourselves can already do something about these

aspects of the problem, then let’s do it ourselves without

unnecessarily bothering the others or the higher entities in our

society. It’s part of the principle of subsidiarity that should govern

our social, collective life. The other two are those of the common

good and solidarity. It would be good if we once again review these

social principles.

            When our government orders some drastic measures like

lockdown or quarantine, etc., to tackle the problem of the

coronavirus, we have to presume that things are studied well and that

these extreme measures are resorted to with good measure of

prudence—that is, to avoid a greater harm and damage to the people and

to our society in general.

            I know that some of us may feel that such measures are an

over-reaction, and that they fail to consider the unpleasant

implications on some sectors of our society. Truth is they are indeed

a bitter pill to take. No question about that.

            But if we consider what is happening in other countries

that are affected by the same problem and what they did to tackle that

problem, then we should understand why such measures have to be

resorted to.

            Yes, no doubt everyone suffers, though in different ways

and in different degrees. That consequence cannot be helped. That is

just part of our human condition here on earth, whether we are in good

times or in bad.

            That is why we should just help one another. Those who are

stronger among us, better positioned, favoured or endowed should give

a helping hand to those who are weaker and less fortunate. This is

where the social principles of the common good, solidarity and

subsidiarity should get into action. This crisis can be a wonderful

occasion to find new and creative ways to help one another.

            Besides, if we are genuine Christians, we already know and

are assured that everything will always work out for the good. (cfr.

Rome 8,28) We already know that whatever suffering we would undergo

here can have positive, constructive and salvific effect on us. Christ

takes care of everything. What we cannot do, he can do it. What is

impossible to us is always possible to him.

            So, we should not worry too much and waste our time

fighting each other over some perceived inadequacies, missteps and

mistakes that others, especially our public officials, may commit.

Let’s just be sport about everything. We cannot avoid some mistakes

and setbacks from happening. But these should not stop us from moving

on.

            Instead of focusing on the mistakes and raising

complaints, let us find solutions and offer some help. The very least

that we can do and can be done always is to pray and offer sacrifices.

Order more than ever

WITH all the rapid pace of the developments and the

multiplying number of things grabbing our attention today, we really

need to get hold of a stable foundation, something that offers an

anchor or at least a rudder to maneuver ourselves with some sense of

direction and purpose along the strong and confusing currents that

mark our life today.

            That is why we cannot overemphasize the need for the

virtue of order that would give us the proper priorities that should

guide our sense of direction and purpose. We have to concretize that

virtue of order by specifying plans, strategies and structures that

would make things clear to us as to what is most important and

necessary in life, what should come first before anything else.

            We have already been warned by Christ that what is most

important is that we be saints, that we be as God wants us to be—his

image and likeness, sharers of his divine life and nature.

            “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever

loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it,” he said.

“What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his

soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mk 8,35-37)

            With these words, we are given in general terms what is

truly necessary for us, for which everything else would serve only as

a means, an occasion or reason to achieve it.

            Sad to say, there are some people, quite powerful and

influential in their fields, who would disparage these words, saying

that they just express some religious sentiments that have no

practical and real value in life.

            This is precisely the kind of attitude that undermines the

virtue of order at the very root. To set aside the value of religion

and our relation with God, or even just to look down on the role of

faith, of things spiritual and supernatural, would already throw us

into a world of disorder.

            Let’s remember that everything comes from God and belongs

to him. He is the one who sets the law and order in all his creation.

We need to refer ourselves to him if we are to go along with what is

proper in life, if we want to know what is true and false, what is

good and evil, what the proper priorities are in our life.

            So, we cannot exaggerate the need for certain practices

that would always uphold the priority of the role of God in our life

over everything else. A plan that would make us develop a growing

intimacy with God as we immerse ourselves in our worldly and temporal

affairs is, of course, a must.

            It should be a plan that would include some moments of

prayer and other practices that would sustain the constant presence of

God in our daily routine like regular reading of the gospel, recourse

to the sacraments, visits to the Blessed Sacrament, some devotions

like the rosary and pilgrimages, etc.

            It also would be helpful if we develop the habit of saying

many aspirations or ejaculatory prayers during the day, and if we make

use of human devices that would help us maintain presence of God and

keep a supernatural outlook as we tackle all sorts of issues,

challenges, trials, situations and predicaments in life.

            It would be good if we set these practices in some clear

structure or strategy so that even in the dizzying pace of our daily

affairs, we would not get confused and much less, lost.

            This virtue of order should be promoted relentlessly,

especially today when it is most needed. It should be taught and

inculcated in everyone as early as possible, and that means that right

in our homes, the virtue should be lived and shown to edify everyone!

When forced indoors

WITH all this talk about lockdown, quarantine and

voluntary self-isolation for about a month or so due to this Corona

virus, we need to learn how to make good use of our time when we are

forced to be indoors.

            We have to welcome this rare opportunity. It at least

offers us a chance to rehearse when due to some emergency situation we

are made to stay put in a place longer than usual.

            We can never tell what the future holds for us. So far, we

already had a volcano eruption, some earthquakes, and we are still in

the first quarter of the year. We can expect typhoons sooner or later.

And there might still be more. Who knows? It’s always good to be

prepared for any eventuality.

            At the very least, what we can do is to grow in the inside

when on the outside we cannot do much and our movements are

restricted, or when we are practically confined and yet we are still

in normal condition physically, mentally and even emotionally.

  

            Most important of all would be that we be spiritually fit

and healthy, and still productive in a sense. This aspect of our life

is fundamental and should not be compromised just because of these

forced restrictive measures imposed on us.

            Definitely, we can make use of the time praying and

studying better than usual. These very important human necessities are

usually taken for granted during ordinary days. Now is the time to

make up. Besides, we have a very good and immediate reason to pray and

study more, given the current situation.

            When we are more with God, we can see things better. We

can always make good use of any situation that humanly speaking may be

considered as a disaster. With God, we would know how to adjust and

adapt. With God, everything, including some negative events, will

always work out for the good, as St. Paul once said. (cfr. Rom 8,28)

            It would be a good idea to pick up some spiritual books,

to know more about the life of Christ and those of the saints. It’s

also a good time to live a more intense spirit of sacrifice and

penance, and to practice the different works of mercy, if not directly

then by virtual means through the Internet, by spreading good pieces

of news or just good spirit. We would be doing a great service that

way, given the conditions of people these days.

            We can also attend to certain concerns to which we only

paid a lick and a promise during our normal working days. There may

still be some books to be read, some assignments to be done, some

repairs to be made in the house. The garden may need better attention

and care than what was given it before. There will always be items

that we left behind because we cannot attend to them during normal

days.

            Family life definitely can be given more attention too.

Parents who still have children at home can spend more time with them,

though this would require of them more creative initiatives so that

the children would learn how to take advantage of their forced

vacation. The parents have the grave duty to give good example to

their children. They would also have more time to show affection to

their children.

            Let’s consider these days of confinement like the

gestation period of a living being that needs to be well taken care of

precisely at that most crucial stage for its development, so that when

the time comes for it to be born, it comes out very healthy.

            Let’s have a very positive outlook at this turn of events.

There’s no use lamenting over this somewhat drastic change of

circumstance. That would only be counter-productive, a pure waste of

time.

            Let’s never forget that if we are forced indoors, God must

have allowed it to happen. And if he allows it, there must be a reason

and a greater good that can be derived from it.