Concern for today’s optics

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

IN the gospel, we can hear Christ expressing his burning desire to pursue his mission here on earth. “I am come to cast fire on the earth; and what will I, but that it be kindled?” he said. (Lk 12,49)

It we want to be true disciples of Christ, as we should, we should also have the same zeal to accomplish our common mission of human redemption. We need to sharpen our awareness of this important duty, and to do something drastic about this duty, given the very obvious fact that many of us take this duty for granted.

While this mission is usually done in a very personal and private way—as in on a one-on-one basis—we should also be aware that given today’s condition in the world, we need to carry it out also in the public arena.

We cannot deny that people nowadays are generally affected by what they see and hear in the media. And neither can we deny that in many instances, what the media offer are many questionable pieces of information, views and opinions. Besides, we can easily notice a very toxic atmosphere in this sector—with exchanges that are bitter and acrimonious.

This is where we have to see what we can do to humanize and Christianize the optics or the general perception and understanding people we on certain issues, especially the hot-button ones. Let’s remember that Christ told his disciples, and now to us, to be the light and the salt of the earth. (cfr. Mt 5,13-16)

The ideal is that no matter how different or in conflict we are on certain issues, we remain Christian to each other and are always courteous and charitable to each other in our exchanges of views. Charity should always prevail, since in the end it is what would lead us to truth and objectivity, freedom, justice, fairness and mercy.

We have to be wary when we allow ourselves to be led and dominated by our emotions and passions. Though these animal part of our being can be blended cleverly by our rationality, we would still be doing badly unless we let ourselves by animated by the spirit of God which is precisely that of charity. In the end, truth, justice and fairness can only be found in charity.

In this regard, what is helpful is when we learn to see Christ in everyone, including those with whom we may have serious differences or are in conflict. We have to go beyond seeing others in a purely human way without, of course, neglecting the human and natural in us.

In short, we have to see others in a spiritual way, within the framework of faith, hope and charity. Otherwise, we cannot avoid getting entangled in our limited and conflict-prone earthly condition. And no amount of human justice and humanitarianism can fully resolve this predicament.

Thus, we need to develop and hone our skills of looking at others beyond the merely physical, social, economic, cultural or political way. While these aspects are always to be considered, we should not be trapped by them.

We need to be pro-active in seeing Christ in everyone and in eliciting true charity when we relate to them, regardless of the circumstances. Let’s hope that we can generate a healthy and Christian optics despite, and even because of, our differences and conflicts in views, opinions and even in beliefs.

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com