Making God present in our environmentSocial networks are a reflection of the inner condition of today's man. There is confusion, quarrels, discussions and dissertations that are presented supposedly to find the truth but which, at bottom, are an attempt to impose one's own criteria on others. There are judgments that set the good against the bad, the faithful against the unfaithful, the brave against the cowardly, those who have the truth against those who are in deception....
In times of polarization of society, there is an effective remedy that we should consider: less arrogance and more humility.
Twisted nails
Some time ago I spoke with a good friend who was going through a difficult time due to a defamation. I listened to him with attention and compassion. It hurt me to know what he was facing. A few days later, I received a meme that showed the image of 5 nails. One of them was completely straight and the other 4 were crooked. A hammer appeared on the straight nail, the image suggested that it was going to be nailed. A phrase at the base of the image said: "always hit the one that is straightest".
As soon as I saw it, I thought of my friend, whom I consider by far an upright person, a person of integrity. I forwarded it to him with a message of solidarity. It was a way of telling him that I was with him.
However, his unexpected answer made me reflect deeply. He wisely replied, "I thank you very much. I believe we are all crooked nails, but still the Lord makes use of us."
It is true! We are all crooked nails, we are all light and shadow, we have successes and failures, we make mistakes and we come to our senses too late. There is no perfect human being. Accepting this reality would lead us to harmonious, healthy and edifying human relationships.
Sowing and harvesting
Pride, on the other hand, deceives us into believing that we are in control of everything, that we already know everything, it makes us arrogant and violent.
I remembered the reply that St. John of the Cross gave to a nun who had written to him to give him all her support when St. John was taken to the dungeon by decision of his own Carmelite brothers. She told him that she would do whatever was necessary to get him out of there. St. John replied: "Don't worry about me, Sister, God will take care of me... bless my persecutors and love them, because 'where there is no love, sow love and you will reap love'".
One of the luminous phrases of our saint is delivered to the world in the midst of injustice and pain!
This is the humble way to face challenges, returning good for evil. This is madness by human standards, but a wise response when we know how to embrace Christian standards.
Going out to meet
It is important to stop contributing to the polarization of the environment by practicing this fundamental virtue. He is humble who has no need to impose himself on others, who has no need to be right, who does not describe himself as the good, the intelligent, the champion of history, because he knows that this place belongs to God alone.
It is not up to us to prove that we are better, but to love!
To love is to go out to meet others, to meet their material and spiritual needs, to care about their wellbeing and to do something practical for them. To keep us in discussions in the networks takes away our time to look at those who suffer and to be in solidarity with them. Even if it is a question of dogmas of faith. We share them, but we respectfully propose them without trying to impose them. It will be our coherence of life, the magnet that will attract souls to the heart of Jesus.
Less quarrels and more actions in favor of those who need us. Let us flood the networks with initiatives of blessing, let us spread the good news, that which encourages us to persevere in the construction of a civilization of love.
Jesus instructed us thus: "learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Mt, 11, 29 b).
