(Inspired by a forward from my friend, Ate Lilia Antonio)
IT IS NOT rare for many us to cast stones at wrongdoing. Worse, we do not think twice of holding the wrongdoer in contempt, like we were righteous and the sight of him and his sin sully our saintliness.
We are not even selective in rendering judgment, encompassing family, friends the elderly and children. As sweeping as our denouncing of the mistake, our knee-jerk reaction is to demand an apology or else memory will be keen against forgetting.
It is common to see on tv perpetrators of various crimes being berate
d by their accuser-victims and, in the throes of sudden recall, the beraters aggressively laying their enraged hands on the suspected culprits, in proximity and plain view of the authorities. It raises the finger-pointing gesture to a manhandling level. Instant gratification? Does it serve a quantum of justice? Make the victim feel better?
d by their accuser-victims and, in the throes of sudden recall, the beraters aggressively laying their enraged hands on the suspected culprits, in proximity and plain view of the authorities. It raises the finger-pointing gesture to a manhandling level. Instant gratification? Does it serve a quantum of justice? Make the victim feel better? Pope Francis has never ceased exhorting mercy and compassion from all peoples and for all of them. The gospel of inclusion is first and foremost in the primate’s mind, going out of his way and reaching out to practically the world to get Christ’s message to the hearts of men, “Love one another. As I have loved you.” We take that love too lightly as to accept that it cost Him His death to illustrate it.
Also on tv, it is common fare on noontime variety shows to feature contestants in simple (sometimes silly) activities like singing, dancing, acting, modeling and other stuff to keep the audience glued to the idiot box and the ratings hot. The participants are usually from the low-income sector of society evidently expecting to bring home a little token of their effort. It is no longer necessary to say that their fleeting moment of fame already cashes in a considerable amount of pride and, well, prestige. So much so that they cannot, will not, flinch at whatever teasing, inappropriate joke or mild insult thrown their way. Instant popularity paying the price. It is heartening that not all tv shows succumb to low tactics of raising their rating level at the expense of their marginalized minions. It is still a moral universe.
Imperative or not, the Holy See’s call is worth heeding. There are charitable ways that do not ask too much to rethink our Christian values.
We may have had an exemplary education and tons of experience but it is humility to delay judgment on an erring person before rendering it. Allow him to explain the reason for his mistake.
Judging is best left to court denizens. The reality we see may be clouded by bias and should not confirm any conclusion, especially ours.
Understanding is earnest without prejudice.
Did we ever get surprised at the speed of a friend’s footing the bill for a meal we just ate? And think (wrongly) that he might be loaded? Did we not reflect instead that money was immaterial to him because what he valued more was our friendship?
We are chagrinned by friends who text us messages every so often. We think that they have nothing better to do when we could just as easily believe they have us in their heart. Ditto with those who call or drop by to chat. We tend to hold them at bay because they get in the way and become a nuisance. And those who ask if there is anything they can help us with, we deem as paying back something they owe us or, worse, thinking low of us and will just as soon confirm the notion should we accept the offer.
We look at others who take the initiative to work as silly, stupid or sucking up for promotion. We hardly consider their industry as responsibility.
Instead of respect people who apologize after an altercation, we regard them as weak. And lose sight of the value of forgiveness.
Values inculcated in us by our parents, teachers, friends, clergy and lay seem to be whiffs of a past slowly and surely being decimated by the “virtues” of a world aswirl with pomp, pageantry, wealth and the ever-increasing gadgetry and gimmicry of media and technology that combine to pollute our senses with banal, bold and belligerent enticements. And turn our backs on the basic, the blessed and the benevolent. Thankfully, the choice has always been – is – ours. We only have to start as we listen to our heart, the one that will choose Christ.
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ABRAHAM DELA TORRE
