Still engaged while isolated

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

We might be practicing social distancing and are forced to stay at home nowadays, but we should never think that we are now detached and disengaged from others. That would go against our very nature. We should not forget that we are meant to be in relation always with others.

Ok, we cannot deny that our relation with others is quite hampered these days because of all this lockdown-and-quarantine thing being imposed on us. But we should not overemphasize nor overdramatize that sorry condition.

If we have the proper frame of mind, we know that there are many ways we can still maintain a tight, and even tighter, relationship with others. For one, we cannot underestimate the tremendous power of our modern technologies that can greatly help us in communicating with others.

I have noticed, for example, how many people have become more pious and prayerful even if they could just attend the Mass online. Many also have become more mindful and thoughtful of others, greeting and initiating dialogs.

I also know that we have already established some networks and other structures during normal times that can now be made more useful these days. Yes, in spite of some restrictions, there are people who manage to undertake feeding programs especially for the homeless in the streets, etc.

As they say, if there is a will, there will always be a way. These difficult times are challenging us to find new and effective ways not only to be connected with others but also to be of real service to others.

Yes, even the worst of times can be converted into the best of times, because that’s when we are challenged to be more heroic, more generous, more creative. Even in the worst scenario when we find ourselves completely hidden, grounded, isolated and all that, we can still be in effective relation with others.

The secret is always in the power of love — whether that love is in our heart. We may lose the power of our hands and feet, we may even lose the power of our mind, but if in our heart still throbs of love that comes from God and is given back to him and to others, then everything will be just fine.

Love is ultimately what matters in the whole world. It is ultimately what counts, because even if we are doing many impressive things but done without love, those things count for nothing.

Let’s remember what St. Paul once said about this point: “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” (1 Cor 13,1-3)

With this love, we can always make use of everything to relate ourselves with God and with everybody else. Love enables us to be resilient, adaptable to any condition without losing what is truly essential in our life. It is always inventive, creative, productive. It never makes us old for it makes everything new. Difficulties, trials, problems, failures, setbacks, etc. are its best conditions to express itself fully.

We definitely need to see to it that we have this love in our heart. We have already been told that love is God’s greatest commandment for us, and Christ’s new commandment for us, summarizing all the previous commandments given to us.

And never think that this love is impossible to have, because Christ himself is bent to give it to us. In fact, he is bent to give his very own self to us. This love is all there for the taking.

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com