How little do we realize that we have immense resources and live immersed in a sea of energy. This store of assets primarily belongs to the entire human family. Nature has been so designed that a significant portion of what is destined for me is part of your asset, and what is meant to enrich you is given to me.
God distributed his gifts to us in this manner that we may share with each other our natural resources, intellectual competences, technical skills, or geographical space. The mistake I make is wanting to take it from you by force. You may make a similar mistake or stubbornly refuse to share.
Joy is in discovering each other’s resources and competences with genuine appreciation, and putting them in constructive relationship: sharing ideas, harmonising interests, eliciting collaboration, re-shaping policies, stimulating creativity.
This is what we do in humble ways in families and parish circles. We can also take the same attitude to our parliaments and universities, as well as to UNESCO and UN sessions. We are citizens of the world, co-responsible for global affairs. Just as we get over a family quarrel at home or group competition between parish service teams, we are called to exert an influence to prevent trade wars between nations and Gaza-like situations. Our enlightened opinion counts!
MUTUALLY DEPENDENT
Yes, we are mutually dependent. Our destinies are interlinked. We belong to each other. Nature gives us models of several patterns of inter-relationships and integrated systems: atoms, molecules, organs, body; individuals, families, tribes, societies, and nations. As the material world is made up of an inseparable network of linkages, and as the human body and nature itself are self-regulating systems, in the same way, we belong to each other in an intimate fashion within the human family. We see that whatever happens in society speaks of connectedness, relationship, interdependence.
Life then is not a competitive struggle, but a cooperative venture, each person and community with diverse competences, resources and experiences playing a complementary role with the other, like musicians in a concert. The present polarised situation in many places is inviting us to play a bridge-building role between different parts of the world, different schools of thought, different economic and political interests… more especially between respected traditional ideas and new critical insights.
Malachi proposed bringing “fathers and children together again” (Malachi, 4:6). Jesus himself understood the problem: “Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them” (Matthew, 5:17). All that is old is not old-fashioned! It may need to be reinterpreted.
In the same way, it is our mission to help bring different human activities into healthy and stimulating relationships among themselves: e.g., competitive commerce must be attentive to ethical values, and scientific and technological research must respect spiritual search. Similarly, even our prestigious and advanced institutions must remain close to challenging, painful, and even ugly human realities in order to be relevant and helpful.
Aggressive forces in society need to be softened, painful memories healed, space for reasoning widened, mutual confidence restored, and a future of harmony constructed together. Thus, we bring together “the scattered children of God” (John 11:52).
Concern for others is not a loss to oneself. Self-care and commitment to society are not mutually exclusive but complementary. Christian self-renunciation on behalf of others leads to self-fulfillment in the deepest sense. How powerful are these words of Pope Francis, “Life grows by being given away… Indeed, those who enjoy life most are those who leave security on the shore and become excited by the mission of communicating life to others” (Evangelii Gaudium n. 10). Curiously, when a person is absolutely lost in total dedication to others, he/she has an intense feeling that he/she is loved and cared for!
NEW SOLUTIONS
In every society, there is a creative minority that spontaneously emerges, taking risks and proposing new solutions to new problems. If you feel urged to belong to this small, generous, and creative minority, do not refuse the call. It is challenging but rewarding.
Our togetherness should be centered around the common good and shared human values based on faith, not mere selfish interests. Notice in the world today a steady erosion of ethical values based on faith. This is truly undermining our future. It has become a core Christian concern to defend the moral heritages of communities that are under threat and redeem values that are perishing.
It was like that moment of helplessness when Jesus told the young man, “Get up” (Luke, 7:14). May we experience a genuine re-awakening of the Spirit in our days, and may the world rejoice to say, “Great prophets have arisen among us,” and “God has visited his people” (Luke, 7:16)!
