For the Common Good
Contemplation serves as a lens to discern what truly matters in life's grand scope. It unveils what is obscuring real injustices, ones that quietly poison hearts, minds, and entire nations. Often, we obsess over trivialities, beating our chests over minor things, yet remain blind to these profound wrongs.
Early moral theology focused on three evils: the world, the flesh, and the devil—in that order. However, attention mainly fixated on the "flesh," neglecting the broader impact of the world and the devil. Individuals bore the brunt of blame, exacerbating societal woes, evident in past catastrophic events in Christian regions.
Shouldering the weight of the world's sin alone overwhelms us, breeding paralysis and shame. Contemplation breaks this cycle, revealing our part in the problem while emphasizing our pivotal role in its resolution, even when our actions seem insignificant. It's a call to act in good faith, acknowledging our place in a larger tapestry.
Jesus and Paul highlighted collective accountability for sin, condemning communities before individuals—an approach now largely abandoned, rendering us morally feeble. Embracing this collective responsibility could foster greater solidarity and spur personal accountability, shifting focus from self-blame to constructive action for the common good.
May the lens of contemplation
reveal the profound injustices often veiled from sight,
guiding us beyond trivialities
to embrace collective responsibility,
fostering solidarity and igniting transformative actions
for the common good.
In the grand panorama of life, Contemplation serves as the lens, Unveiling the silent injustices, That poison hearts and nations alike. Obsessions over trivialities, We beat our chests, blind to profound wrongs, Moral theology once framed Evil in three tiers, yet fixated On the lesser, the "flesh," Ignoring the world's broader impact. Blame, heavy on individual shoulders, Society's woes laid bare, Past catastrophes echoing In Christian lands. The weight of the world's sin, A burden too vast, Breeds paralysis and shame, Yet contemplation's gentle touch Breaks this cycle. Revealing our part in the tapestry, Emphasizing our role, however small, A call to act in good faith, Insignificant actions in a grand design. Jesus, Paul, speaking of collective sin, A communal accountability, Now fading, leaving us Moral shadows. Embrace the collective, Solidarity births accountability, Shifting focus from self-blame, To forge a path of common good.