Charity Amid Our Growing Differences and Conflicts

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

CONSIDERING the rapidly growing differences and conflicts among ourselves not only in terms of age and generation, but also and especially in terms of opinions, lifestyle, culture, and even beliefs, etc., we have to be prepared to deepen and broaden our sense of charity so we can manage to love everyone, as we should, in spite of all the in spites of.

We can only do this if we truly identify ourselves with Christ, having his very mind and heart that are willing to go all the way to offer his life if only to love everyone, even if not all will reciprocate that love.

In many schools at this time, there is such a thing as retooling their programs if only to align and adapt their training to the fast-evolving developments and needs of the industry, corporations and other institutions they want to serve. What should never be neglected is how to equip the students in their spiritual and moral life, and particularly in how to live in charity, in the context of the current world condition.

I am particularly concerned about how the young ones especially are being prepared to face the challenges of the times. They are getting more and more exposed to highly fictionalized movies and books that show, if not promote, violence, rash judgments, the law of Talion. And they seem to be undernourished, if not starved, in their life of piety. It looks like religion to them has become an irrelevant item in their lives.

The challenge to face nowadays is how to teach everyone, especially the young ones, how to find Christ in everything, and how to let everyone realize more deeply that we need Christ in all our earthly affairs. This, definitely, will be a daunting task, but I believe it is all worthwhile.

We cannot deny that many people are trapped in the earthly systems of self-indulgence, self-assertion and self-affirmation, with their relation with God and with others practically unattended. There is a great need for everyone to learn what Christ told us about how to follow him: that we have to deny ourselves and carry the cross. (cfr. Mt 16,24)

This is the formula to follow if we want to live charity that has a universal coverage. Charity is not only for those who are right in something. It’s also for those who are wrong. It’s not only for the winners. It’s also for the losers. Not only for friends, but also for enemies!

But the universal inclusivity of charity does not do away with the exclusivity of truth. It does not do away with the distinction between good and evil, between right and wrong, between truth and falsehood. In fact, it sharpens that distinction. And yet, it still works in all that distinction.

Yes, charity is all-inclusive, though it is expressed, of course, in different ways. As they say, we have to have different strokes for different folks. And that’s simply because at the end of the day, whether we like it or not, we are all creatures and children of God, brothers and sisters to each other. We have been created by our Creator out of love and also for love.

We have to realize that our life here on earth can be described as a journey toward our ultimate home, which is to be with God our Father and Creator in heaven. It will be charity that would keep us going and that would enable us to leap to the eternal supernatural life with God.

            Email: roycimagala@gmail.com