By Fr. Roy Cimagala
TODAY’S ideologies and isms clearly show the effects of godlessness. Things like Wokeism, Secularism, Gender Ideology and many other isms are openly declaring godless doctrine and practices. They are trapped in their own reasoning alone, unable to see the global picture that the faith in God provides. They are now into pure subjectivism and immanentism, unable to transcend beyond their own thinking.
As consequences, we are now witnessing increasing cases of violence, squabbling, misunderstanding. Clearly unnatural and inhuman practices are on the rise, like abortion, pornography, systemic corruption and deception. Mental illnesses and psychological irregularities, even among the young ones, are also on the rise. Human nature has been defaced and the real purpose of human life is all but forgotten.
This is not to mention the rising cases of demonic possession and infestation. No wonder that requests for exorcism and deliverance are also on the rise. Obviously, if the spirit of God is rejected, another spirit will surely come to animate people’s souls. Without God to give us the true light and strength, we obviously would be completely helpless.
We need to remind ourselves that we are meant to be with God. We should not just be by ourselves. We would be completely helpless that way, even if we can delude ourselves into thinking that with our human powers alone, we can properly cruise the ocean of our life.
Man is a creature of God, just like any other creature. But in our case, we have been created in God’s image and likeness. That is why we are given the faculties of intelligence and will so that we can know and decide to choose to be with God.
That is the primary purpose of our intelligence and will. Besides, since God is a purely supernatural being, God gives us the grace so that we can enter into his supernatural life also. Making God as our be-all and end-all is never a degradation of our human nature. On the contrary, it is the perfection of our nature.
We need to spread this most basic truth of faith about ourselves, explaining it in ways that people in all levels and conditions can easily understand, appreciate and start to live out. It should be made clear to everyone that the goal for us to pursue is to assume the very identity of God in Christ through the Holy Spirit. This is not a fantasy, but truly the most real thing about us.
And so, we need to understand that we actually have to grow to be like Christ who offers us “the way, the truth and the life” for us to be with God. This is, of course, a truth of faith that is presented to us to act on, and not forced or imposed on us. It is something that should be taken up by us freely. Let’s hope that we can overcome whatever prejudice, disbelief and awkwardness that can undermine our desire and effort to be “alter Christus.”
We should not be afraid to undertake this lifelong process, thinking perhaps that it will detach us from the worldly realities. Nothing can be farther than the truth. With Christ, we would know how to love the world, how to get immersed in it, but always in the proper way.
Let’s keep in mind what St. John in his gospel said in this regard: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn 3,16)
Email: roycimagala@gmail.com
