Sharpening our sense of communion

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

WE need to be more aware of our need and duty to develop and, in fact, sharpen our sense of communion among ourselves. It is not a communion that is based on some natural basis alone—biological, affinal, political, social, etc. Rather, it is a communion that is based on the most fundamental truth about ourselves that we are all creatures and children of God, meant to form one family with God.

It’s a communion that has eminently spiritual and supernatural dimensions, lived out and developed more in our thoughts and desires that definitely should be expressed in words and deeds, and made perfect through the grace that God gives us.

This is the sense of communion that we should always try to sharpen, given the fact that we always tend to take it for granted. As a result, we fail to give due attention to the others, we easily fall into all forms of isolation and self-indulgence, we make ourselves prone to all kinds of temptations.

When our sense of communion is not sharp, we can have a wrong orientation in life as we get more interested in the things of the world than in persons as we should. We easily become worldly, playing worldly games, rather than living out the most essential purpose of our life which is charity, which is channeling the love of God for us with everybody else.

We should not forget the new commandment, the culmination of all the commandments of God that Christ gave us. We should love one another he has loved us. (cfr. Jn 13,34) And let’s also remember that this love with which Christ loves us is the same love that the Father has for Christ. “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you,” Christ said. (Jn 15,9)

Imagine how tremendous that love is! It’s a love that goes all the way to offering one’s life if only to save a person. It’s a love that has a universal scope that would include our enemies.

We should not be afraid to sharpen this sense of communion because even if it entails a lot of effort and sacrifice, it is something that is truly good for us. It actually gives us true joy and peace even amid the unavoidable differences and conflicts among ourselves.

It’s when we have this faith-inspired sense of communion that we can manage to be one in the spiritual and supernatural level with God and with everybody else. It’s when we truly put ourselves in the dynamics of real love where we will have joy and peace. It’s when we can already have a foretaste of heaven.

We have to develop the appropriate attitude and skills for this. Do we always go to God to be empowered to have this sense of communion? Are we inspired by the example of Christ and of all the saints who heroically followed Christ’s example in order to have this sense of communion? Are we always mindful and thoughtful of the others? Do we always bring them in our prayers? Are we willing to make sacrifices for them?

Do we continue to ask grace for this purpose, having recourse especially to the sacraments? Do we develop the appropriate virtues? Do we know how to go beyond our usual differences and conflicts? Do we realize that whatever I do, no matter how little, if done with love, can give good effect on others?

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com