Aristotle once said that every art, inquiry, action, and pursuit aims at some good or end. This end, he calls, the Summum Bonum or the Greatest Good defined by the digital world as ‘the life of the righteous or the life led in communion with God and according to God’s precepts.’ Other sages of history point to virtue, happiness, or peace as forms of this greatest ideal.
Every human being is innately good, and therefore desires what is good for himself. ‘What is good’ however is changed in the process. Man’s concept of ‘good’ sometimes turns into the glitter of the world – money, fame, and power that sort of bring ephemeral ‘happiness.’ There is nothing wrong with the possession of material goods, wealth, popularity, and power if these do not lead you into walking farther away from your pursuit of the righteous or a life in communion with God – the greatest good.
It might be easier said than observed to donate some of your earnings to somebody who is in dire need of help because, after all, you worked hard for it. It might not be easy to convince a person in power to allocate funds to hurricane victims who may not have voted for him the past election. It might not be easy for a beauty pageant winner to not maintain her impeccable physical appearance. To abandon ‘what is good’ in the world is not easy. But this is not ‘the greatest good’ Christ wants us to attain. He wants us to live a life of peace grounded on following His way – a life path strewn not just with glitters but also with thorns that are meant to make us grow closer to Him.
St. Aquinas posits that the highest happiness of man consists in the knowledge of the highest truth, which is God. To know God, we need to love God. To love God, we need to follow Christ, the Son God the Father sent to show us how to live a life of love. Following Christ however is not walking on a red carpet with all the glitters and reaching the stage for deafening applause. Following Christ requires a lot of inconveniences: “Take up your cross and follow me (Matthew 16:24). I am sending you out like sheep among the wolves (Matthew 10:16).”
In the small prayer group I used to participate in, the members come together on Friday evenings to learn more about Christ. Differing opinions, backgrounds, and personality however sometimes get in the way of learning and knowing about Christ. Maintaining harmonious relationships with other members of the group is sometimes the biggest challenge.
Because we come from different family orientation, we differ in the way we relate with one another. Sometimes, we become dismayed by other members’ inability to let go of the mistakes of others. At other times, we become the cause of other’s discomfort in the faith. But here are the things I learned that sometimes help me rethink and even overcome some ‘relationship problems’, so that I can continue to know more about my God.
First, I will remember that each human being is endowed with dignity. Human dignity is grounded on the biblical tenet that man is created in the image and likeness of God. The best way to give honor to the Creator is to respect his creation- foremost of which is man whom He has put in charge of the universe. I will remember that each one of us is God’s masterpiece; therefore, I will endeavor to respect my brothers and sisters in Christ as my partners in faith. Nobody is above anyone else. If we are aware of this then we will be able to treat one another with kindness and humility.
Second, I will remember that I am a part of that one body in Christ Jesus. When a part of this body is ill or not well, the whole body suffers. So, no matter how unimportant my role is in this body, I will endeavor to play it for the sake of others.
Third, I will remember that everybody has shortcomings. How many times have I committed mistakes in the past? How many times have others forgiven me of my mistakes? If I am aware of my flaws, my limitations, I am deterred from passing judgment about others. Thomas A Kempis puts it this way: “If it seems to you that you know many things and understand them well enough, know at the same time that there are many more things of which you are ignorant.”
Fourth, I will endeavor to examine my conscience as often as needed. In his book Imitation of Christ, Thomas A Kempis explains, “A person who knows himself well, is mean in his own eyes, and is not delighted with being praised by men. He is very unwise who attends to other things than what may serve to his salvation. The more and better you know, the heavier is your judgment unless your life be also more holy.” He further said, “the highest science and most profitable lesson is to truly know and despise ourselves. To have no opinion of ourselves, and to think always well and commendably of others is great wisdom and high perfection.” This is perhaps similar to a popular admonition by the philosopher Socrates to “know thyself.”
Fifth, I will endeavor to learn the art of being calm, so I can work for peace. When I have so much worries or apprehensions, I am impeded from fully learning about Christ, the prince of peace. There were times I did not like to come to prayer because I had just gotten angry at somebody. When I am not at peace with myself, I feel unable to bring peace to others. Thomas A Kempis says, “A peaceable man does more good than one that is very learned. A passionate man turns every good to evil and easily believes evil. A good peaceable man turns all things to good. He who knows how to suffer will enjoy much peace.”
Finally, I will remember that I am a work in progress and that every day is a
new beginning. I may have made mistakes in the past; I may have been remiss in my duties as a mother, wife, sister, or friend, but God always gives me the chance to renew my life everyday. He gives me the chance to be a better person everyday.
Our quest for the Greatest Good, the Summum Bonum, is not that easy. We need to embrace the challenges that go with it. Just as Christ carried the cross to show his love for us, so should we carry ours.
This Borrowed Scrap of Time 