By: Fr. Roy Cimagala
WE need to understand this point very well. Our humanity is not just a matter of biology, the blend of genes that gives us our unique identity. Such basis of our humanity would be no different from that of the other animals whose identity is solely based on the genes that are passed on to them from their parents. As such, animals are governed only by their instincts, and are classified simply as family, genus and species.
We, of course, are also animals. We too have instincts and are heavily influenced by them. But we are a lot more. In fact, we are qualitatively different from them. Neither is our humanity a mere matter of the play of social, economic, cultural or historical forces. Of course, at this level, we are already very different from the other animals. There is already a quantum leap involved. But, no, our humanity is not just that either.
There is something in us that goes beyond genetics and that directs and shapes our reactions to the different conditionings we are subject to without getting entrapped by these conditionings. It is our intelligence and will that, though needing some organs to operate, enable us to do not merely material operations. They enable us to do spiritual operations that transcend the material conditions of our life.
It is because of this endowment of our nature that we can manage to go beyond the level of animality, though we can consider ourselves as the best among the animals. It is this endowment that would indicate that we have a spiritual soul, and not just the animal soul as our principle of life.
It is this spiritual soul of ours that leads us to the world of the spiritual and supernatural world of God who, as we get to know things better, is the original source of everything. We just did not come from our parents, and the parents of our parents, etc. We come from God.
We have to realize that our humanity in our earthly life is still in the making. Yes, we are already men and women, no question about that. We are already human beings. But we are not yet in the fullness of our humanity. We still have to reach that goal. We are still a work in progress.
And to reach our fullness, we have to correspond to God’s continuing work of creation and redemption of us. This is a basic truth about ourselves that we have to be most aware of so we can act on it properly. This means we have to know and love him as much as we can. And knowing and loving him means doing his will, as Christ himself said: “If you love, you will keep my commandments.” (Jn 14,15)
We have to see to it that every day, we somehow should be aware that we are progressing toward that goal of the fullness of our humanity, because we are consciously corresponding to God’s continuous interventions in our life.
At the end of the day as we make the examination of conscience, we should feel convinced that irrespective of how the drama of the day went, we are aware that we are approaching the fullness of our humanity.
Some people may say that this is a Christian or Catholic thing only. This should not be told, much less, imposed on others who are non-Christians. I believe that is the wrong conclusion to make. We, of course, should not force people to do what we say and teach.
But we should be allowed to explain, even as all of us should also be open to the views of others, no matter how different or in conflict their views are with ours. There has to be courteous dialogue and exchange of views. I am sure, that despite our differences and conflicts, we can still find some common ground because in the end, the truth can only be one.
Email: roycimagala@gmail.com
