Here, no utopia, no paradise

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

 

WE have to learn to live with this basic fact of life. No matter how much we try to make our life and the world in general as perfect as possible, we can never achieve it. We just have to contend with the reality that we will be living till the end of time in an imperfect world, but also one that is perfectible and hopefully always in the process of proper progress and perfection.

That, if we do our part. God in his continuing providence will always draw us and the world in general toward him which is where our ultimate perfection is found. In this world, we will never have that paradise. The utopia will remain a utopia—it’s nowhere to be found here.

Let’s remember that Christ, who is our savior, did not finish his redemptive work with this world and all of us perfect. Problems, difficulties if not failures, mistakes, temptations and sins will continue to hound all of us till the end of time.

What he has given us is simply the means of how to handle our condition here in this world with the view of recovering us to be with him in heaven, our true paradise and eternal and definitive home.

And the means is nothing less than he himself. He has not left us only with words, doctrine, the Church, the sacraments, etc. He has left us with nothing less than his own self, because only in him and with him can we enter into our eternal paradise.

And that means that like him we have to learn how to suffer and die with him. Let’s not forget that he told us that if we want to follow him, we should deny ourselves and carry our cross. (cfr. Lk 9,23)

St. Paul reiterated the same point when he said, “If we have been united with Him (Christ) like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.” (Rom 6,5) That’s the general, ideal picture of our life that we should have in our mind.

Of course, we have to try our best to make our life and the world in general as best as they can be, knowing that they will never be perfect where there will be no more tears, no more death, nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow. (cfr. Rev 21,4)

Yes, we will try to push for social justice, to eliminate poverty and injustice, etc., but knowing that we can never achieve their perfect state. As Christ said, “The poor you will always have with you.” (Mt 26,11)

So, we should just learn to live with that life-long condition, without making it a reason to restrain ourselves from giving our all in helping and loving everyone, especially those in difficult situations, in the peripheries, etc.

In fact, we should have an all-systems-go attitude to whatever work of charity and mercy we can do for everyone, the rich and the poor, the intellectuals and the manual workers, etc. In this, we should be unsparing and unstinting.

Let’s never forget that God will always be with us, guiding us, giving us all that we truly need in his all-wise providence. Besides, he is always ready to forgive us everytime we fall or stray from the path he wants us to tread.

 

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com