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By Fr. Roy Cimagala
Chaplain
Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)
Talamban, Cebu City
Email: roycimagala@gmail.com
IN the gospel, there is a part where Christ tells us some indications meant to guide us in our earthly journey. (Mt 7,6.12-14) “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.” (Mt 7,6)
These are words that clearly tell us that we need to develop an abiding sense of the sacred even as we immerse ourselves with the mundane things of the world. They are meant to remind us that our life is not simply a natural human life, but is also a supernatural life with God.
As an image and likeness of God, our life cannot help but be also sacred as it is a shared life with God. We cannot help but also handle sacred things in our life, like the sacraments and the sacramentals. In fact, the natural moral law that governs our moral life should be regarded also as sacred. We just cannot treat it the way we treat the purely natural law of physics, chemistry, biology and the like.
And then, Christ continues to tell us about the Golden Rule. “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets.” (Mt 7,12) This is a basic ethical law that should govern the way we treat each other. It’s a way to achieve the basic peace and order in our social life.
This Golden Rule reminds me of the way we handle the traffic on the road which can be a good image of how our life actually is. There are many vehicles going in different directions. We just have to learn how to give and take so that each one can reach his destination safely. Especially in a heavy traffic situation, there should be a good sense of reciprocity, flexibility and adaptability.
This does not mean that there are no absolute truths that all should follow. We just have to learn how to live and uphold it in spite of our unavoidable differences and conflicts not only in matters of opinion but also in matters of belief.
We need to remind ourselves that truth in the end can only be achieved if it is also lived, upheld and defended in charity. That is why, we should be ready to go through unavoidable suffering the way Christ suffered to live and defend the truth in charity. In fact, suffering can be the very touchstone of truth in charity.
Thus, Christ also said that to arrive at our proper destination, we need to enter by the narrow gate. “Enter through the narrow gate,” he said. “For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.”
That is why he also said in another part of the gospel that for us to follow him, we need to deny ourselves and carry the cross. (cfr. Mt 16,24) We can readily see the wisdom of this divine indication when we realize how easy it is for us to be deceived, confused and trapped into some kind of a silo when we just follow what we want.
We always need to follow the will of God, not just our own will, for that in the end is what is proper to us.
