Be always on the alert

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

With the many and rapid developments going around, we should see to it that we are always on the alert, lest we can easily get lost, lulled with all sorts of nice things down the road to perdition. This is not to be a wet blanket, nor to be a paranoid. This is just common sense.

More importantly, this is to follow what St. Peter has advised us: “Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering…” (1 Pt 5,8-9)

We should not be naïve. While the new developments, like the new technologies, can offer us a lot of advantages, facilities and conveniences, we should remember that they also come with potential dangers that require stiffer prudential measures.

These new developments and technologies can stir up latent weaknesses that we, up to now, may not be aware of. They can occasion all kinds of disorder, like wasting time, falling into laziness, complacency, unregulated curiosities, frivolity, envy, greed, lust, anger, etc., etc. They can cause a certain kind of addiction that is hard to control.

With these new developments that clearly show progress in our technological capabilities, we are expected, nay, required also to progress in our virtues of order, prudence, humility, self-discipline, sincerity and transparency, etc. Otherwise, there is no way but to be swallowed up by what may be described as “sweet poison.”

Most especially, with these new developments and technologies we are required to radically rectify our intentions. We should see to it that all we do should be clearly for the glory of God. (cfr. 1 Cor 10,31) We cannot take this requirement for granted, giving it only a lick and a promise.

All other motives, like our interest to know more things, to reach out to more people, to get ahead in life, etc., should be subordinated and inspired by the ultimate motive of giving glory to

God, of loving him with everything we are and we have, and of loving everyone else the way Christ loves us. (cfr. Jn 13,34) Otherwise, we would be trapped in our own world of self-indulgence.

We really should have a good inventory of our strengths and weaknesses, so we would know how to behave properly and be guarded and protected, as we go through this new phase of our life’s drama with the new developments around.

With our strengths, let us see to it that we manage to grow in love for God and others as we pursue our temporal and mundane affairs in the context of these new developments. Our strengths or assets should not be used only for self-interest.

With our weaknesses, let us put the necessary measures to protect us from falling into them. Our weaknesses may be in the area of pride, greed, lust, envy, laziness, etc., and we should put the appropriate defenses, using both the spiritual and supernatural means as well as the human means.

We should always be on guard. Let’s remember that our life can be regarded as always in the state of war and struggle, since the forces of good and evil will always be around. For this, we need to regularly examine our conscience, to see if our spiritual and moral life is in order or not, is healthy or not, is growing or deteriorating. And from there, let’s make the appropriate plans and strategies.

As in any war and struggle, there is the offensive mode as well as the defensive one. We need to equip ourselves properly to take on our need to grow and cover more areas spiritually and morally as well as to protect ourselves from harm. And if we happen to fall into harm’s way, we should know what to do.

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com