THIS is the ideal condition for all of us. And let’s hope that we can achieve it. It’s when we are at peace with everyone that we attain our ideal state which we should try our best to pursue. Yes, even if differences and conflicts continue to hound us, as long as we follow the example of Christ as we should, we would manage.
The secret is precisely to follow the example of Christ who went about proclaiming the truth always in charity. And even if he was met with resistance and finally put to death, he just offered forgiveness for everyone.
His ultimate desire was the reconciliation of man with God. The differences and conflicts, the resistance and the murder did not matter much to him, though he suffered gravely. Anyway, there will be judgment when God knows how to separate the goats from the sheep.
That should also be the ultimate motive for us to be at peace with everyone, God first and then everyone else. Just as what Christ did, we should just try to follow the will, the commandments of God as best that we could, and offer forgiveness as well as ask for it, whatever the case may be, in our dealings with the others.
We should not end the day with some resentment, anger and much less, hatred, still gnawing at our heart. This may sound difficult if not impossible to do, given the way we are, but as long as we persist in following the example of Christ, no matter how tenuously, we can manage to clear our heart of any negativity that would rob us of our peace.
We need to train ourselves in keeping our mind and heart conformed to Christ’s. His attitude toward everything in life should be ours. His words and example should be the light that guides our every step.
For this, we have to do the appropriate practices, like meditating on the words and life of Christ as recorded in the gospel regularly, like everyday. We should continually develop and deepen the virtues, especially humility, purity, order, etc.
Most especially, we should follow what Christ told us about what is needed to follow him. “If anyone wants to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me,” he said. (Lk 9, 23)
We should not be afraid of the suffering that would be involved, and even of death itself. Christ reassured us that everything will be all right as long as we are with him. “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul,” he said. “Instead, fear the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Mt 10, 28)
God will take care of everything. We should not worry about anything. He reassured us that while here on earth we will always have some trouble, he has everything overcome already. (cfr. Jn 16, 33)
And St. Paul has this wonderful insight about this truth of God taking care of everything. “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1, 6) Ours is simply to go along, as best that we can, with God’s plan for us as shown by Christ. Just like Christ, we are not expected to solve all the problems in this world. But the resurrection takes care of everything without compromising the real justice that comes from God./PN
