The first time I
visited a monastery of our Dominican nuns, I was surprised by the grills that
separated us from them. In my tactlessness, I suddenly asked one of the nuns:
Why are you imprisoned behind a bar? Will you not be better off outside those
bars and do great charitable works, say feeding the street dwellers, teaching
in the universities, etc? You have strength and creativity which you can use as
an eminent mover in your chosen field, and even achieve something in life. The
nun fell silent but with a smile on her lips, she gently replied: From where
you stand, we are the one behind the bars. But from I stand, you are the one
imprisoned by this world; by the standards it had set for many to accomplish in
futility. Her reply left me dumbfounded. And a long conversation ensued between
us. I was enlightened about the monastic vocation she has received from the
Lord. Truly she is free; she is at her best. She ended our conversation with
this: This is the best place the Lord gave for me. This is the best life I can
ever live.
Some people may
not understand the decisions we make. Others may not appreciate the efforts we
exert. Despite doing our best, for others, our best is not enough.
Our efforts may
not be in accord with their worldly standards. But we are not of this world.
When we were baptized, this world ceased to be our homeland. This world and its
standards ceased to be ours, for heaven becomes our destiny; its norms become
our guiding post. That is the reason why the world hates Catholics and
Christian; for the world is set aside, and heaven and the message of Christ are
placed at the center. It is not shunning away the world but transforming it;
restoring it to its original and glorious state.
But perhaps the
world is run by men who just love it too much. So much so that any changes in
the status quo are not welcome and anything that may differ is hated. Christianity
and the message it brings have a counter-cultural dimension. The world offers
instants; Christianity encourages patience. The world encourages popularity,
boldness, loudness; Christianity teaches meekness. The world directs us towards
pride; Christianity moves us towards the ground (humility). The world has
driven us to despair and pessimism; Christianity draws us towards hope. The
world cultivates suspicions; Christianity allows us to thrive in a climate of
faith and trust.
Oftentimes, we
Christians are opined to be out of this world in the basis of our teachings. A
part of it may be right, for we are heaven bound. We are in this world but not
of this world. Should the world hate us, our consolation is that Jesus was
hated first. Should the world hate you for being a Christian; for following the
commands of the Lord, be thankful, for you are on the right track of following
Jesus, the one hated and reviled by the standards of this world.
In the face of
criticisms, discouraging results, and lack of support from this world, we
continue to do our best. We continue to labor in the vineyard of the Lord, at
peace that what we do is according to His will; at peace that it is the Holy
Spirit who guides us on what we should do and to where we should go; at peace
that it is God, not man, who will be the ultimate judge of our work.
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