Life’s paradoxes

WE have to be ready for the many paradoxes in life. Christ already warned us about this unavoidable condition in our life here on earth. And the secret is already shared with us.

And that is none other than to be with Christ, to be like Christ. In fact, we are supposed to be “another Christ,” if not “Christ himself,” to be able to deal with this very confusing condition of our life.

We are told to lose in order to win, to die in order to live, to give in order to receive, to be empty so we can be filled. We are told to be detached from persons and things of this world to be attached only to who would truly matter to us, and that is God. Christ even made use of the word, “hate,” so we can follow him, so we can be his disciples. Still more, he told us to be as simple as doves yet as astute as serpents.

To be sure, if we would only use our own faculties or our own understanding of things, there is no way but really to be at a loss as to what to make out of all these contrasting qualities.

But precisely, we have to know the true character of a paradox to realize that these contrasting qualities are meant to highlight a higher truth. That’s what a paradox does. It takes cognizance of the many different and competing values of our many different and competing parts and aspects of our life to attain a certain unity of life and gain our one ultimate goal.

Thus, we should not be surprised that we have to deal with these paradoxes. We should just learn how to do it properly. And again, the secret is already given to us. It is to be with Christ, to be like him, to be “another Christ,” if not “Christ himself.”

And that ideal is possible because Christ himself has made himself totally available to us. He has left us not only with his doctrine, his teaching and example. He has given us his very own self in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist which we should try to receive as eagerly and as worthily as possible, knowing fully well what are involved when we receive him sacramentally.

With him, what is impossible to us is made possible. All we have to do is to try our best to follow him, to make his teaching and example our very own life. That prospect may appear to be incredible. And it surely is. But what is needed here is simply to activate our faith. We are supposed to believe more than to understand things even as we try our best to understand also.

It’s our faith, supported by hope and charity, which would enable us to do what we think is impossible for us to do. Remember that Christ many times faulted even those who were close to him, the apostles, as having of little faith. We should just try to make it our constant prayer to him, “Lord, I believe but help my unbelief.” (Mk 9,24) Or, to echo the apostle’s plea, “Lord, increase our faith.” (Lk 17,5)

Only then can we manage to see the beautiful truth of the contrasting qualities or conditions involved in our life’s paradoxes!