Pursuing unity amid our differences

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

“WHOEVER is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Lk 11,23) With these words, Christ tells us clearly where the basis for our unity and equality amid our unavoidable differences and conflicts can be found. Yes, it’s with him, and only with him.

No matter how right we may be in something, no matter how strongly convinced we are that we are in the truth, if we are not with Christ, then we would not know how to deal with others with charity, which in the end is what truly builds up unity and equality among ourselves.

Yes, it’s the charity that St. Paul describes as “patient, is kind. Charity does not envy, does not act wrongly, is not inflated. Charity is not ambitious, does not seek for itself, is not provoked to anger, devises no evil. Charity does not rejoice over iniquity, but rejoices in truth. Charity suffers all, believes all, hopes all, endures all.” (1 Cor 13:4-7)

Yes, it’s the charity that enables us to bear the burdens of each other and thus fulfil the law of Christ. (cfr. Gal 6,2) It’s the charity that is willing to suffer for the others, and can consider as our real treasures here on earth the following conditions: hunger, thirst, heat, cold, pain, dishonor, poverty, loneliness, betrayal, slander, prison…

It’s the charity that considers sacrifice as its way, that welcomes any cross that can come our way, that is detached from passing opinions and views, and willing to suffer for the truth, no matter how unfair that would be. It’s the charity that knows how to love enemies and to be ever merciful and magnanimous, how to be “all things to all men,” (1 Cor 9,22) irrespective of how the others are. 

Our pursuit for unity and equality amid our differences and conflicts can only be achieved if we have this charity that is based on our living union with God as shown in obeying the truths he revealed to us about ourselves and living them with God’s spirit, that is, with charity. Again, truth and charity should always go together for either one to be authentic, not fake or plastic. Otherwise, we would have a flying elephant.

Our problem is that we often get contented only with our own ideas, ideologies, laws and some consensus to achieve this ideal. Do you think these would be enough? Unity and equality among men and women, for example, just cannot be achieved simply with our human means. We can say, “tell it to the Marines,” when one would dare to affirm so. 

Imagine when we have to consider the complexities of pursuing social justice and of respecting and loving each other in our political differences that can become bitter, what with all the bullies and trolls around, the shameless virtue signaling and gaslighting, etc., that people like to use.

Though our human doctrine, ideologies and laws have a role to play, they are nothing if they are not inspired or infused with the living spirit of God, who is the source of all unity and equality. This should be made clear to everyone.

We would just be giving appearances, many times deceptive appearances, of unity and equality, when things are not done in the context of a living relation with God. The Trinitarian nature of God—three persons in one God, equal in dignity and in eternal relation with one another—is the pattern of the unity and equality proper to us.

Developing unity and consistency in our life

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

          WHILE Christ was always patient, compassionate, merciful and

the like with everyone, we cannot deny that there were occasions that

he showed anger and expressed some lamentations. He even did this with

his disciples, and especially with those self-righteous leading Jews

of his time and those who converted the temple into a market place.

          In one occasion, while being invited for dinner by a

Pharisee, he was criticized, at least interiorly by those around, for

not observing the prescribed washing before the meal. That’s when he

told the host, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of

the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You

fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside?” (cfr.

Lk 11,37-41)

          This gospel episode somehow warns us that we are always

prone to fall into all kinds of formalism and legalism without the

proper spirit and motive behind our actions, laws, culture, etc. It

reminds us that we have to be truly consistent and to develop a

certain unity of life that can only be achieved if we are with Christ,

who is the pattern of our humanity and the savior of our damaged

humanity.

          Developing this consistency and unity of life should be an

abiding concern for all of us. Even if we have to contend with many

aspects and dimensions of our life, it is only one life that each of

us has, not two or three. And thus, to build and keep our unity of

life is a daily task of ours. We can neglect it only to our own

serious risk and damage.

          Our life is not only biological that relies simply on our

biological functions. Neither is it just purely physical or material

that requires merely material nourishment.

          Our life has many more important aspects and dimensions that

need to be integrated into one whole consistent thing. There’s the

manual and intellectual, the active and contemplative, personal and

social, the material and spiritual, the temporal and eternal, etc.

          And precisely because of our spiritual nature, we open

ourselves to a supernatural level. That’s just how the cookie

crumbles. Thus, we should also be aware of what is natural and

supernatural in our life, the mundane and the sacred.

          We can manage to have this consistency and unity of life if

we identify ourselves with Christ. Let’s remember what Christ said so

clearly. He is the vine, we are the branches. We can only have life,

let alone, consistency and fruitfulness in our life, if we are united

to him. Outside of him, we can only expect death, inconsistency and

sterility.

          Yes, only in and with Christ can we have the real principle

of unity and fruitfulness in our life. We would be fooling ourselves

if we fail to recognize this basic truth about ourselves.

          This, of course, is a truth of faith, not so much of

science. And that’s where the problem lies. There is a crisis of faith

in the world, especially involving those who rely more on their human

abilities than on belief in Christ.

          We have to correct that predicament by realizing more deeply

that our life is supposed to be a life with God since not only are we

one of his creatures, but a creature that is meant to be his image and

likeness. We are meant to be like God through Christ in the Holy

Spirit. That’s how we can have consistency and unity of life.

* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Unity

WED, MAY 11, 2016 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR

EDITORIAL

History unfolds in Davao City with its mayor for decades, Rodrigo Duterte to sit as the country’s new President by June 30 after being favored by more than 15 million Filipinos and counting on election day, May 9.  It’s history for it’s the first time that the country’s president comes from Mindanao. It was a tough battle muddled with black propaganda that if it did bite, could have ruin the political career of the mayor. But it did not, in fact, the voters’ preference for the mayor shoot up. The dirty political scheme didn’t work to the dismay of his detractors and victory for his supporters.

However let bygones be bygones. The offering of friendship and healing by the mayor to his opponents which reflects the soft spot in him behind that robustness is proof he deserves the presidential post. Now that the people has made its judgment to all candidates, it would be best for everybody especially the losers to respect it.  Accept and forget the pain of defeat. The country has a lot of problems to address. How could the new leaders fix this ailing country if it remains polarized fueled by bitterness and hate.

The stigma of dirty politics should be unleashed to pave the way for unity and reconciliation. This is easier said than done most especially to those who were victims of smear campaigns. But what else is new in Philippine elections. Dirty campaigns have been there since time immemorial.  The politicians should have got used to it and just chew on all the election campaign residues for a  day or two, then move on.   Proclamation of the winners of the 2016 elections will be completed in next to no time.  Speed up the healing and buckle down to work.