When we look at reality, we tend to focus first on situations of suffering, natural disasters, armed conflicts, the suffering of so many brothers and sisters crossing borders, hunger, child abuse, and the disasters of this pandemic.
Looking at Christ crucified today and allowing ourselves to be challenged in our lives is part of our responsibility. However, this gaze must be accompanied by a series of attitudes if we do not want to fall into pessimism and despair. The five attitudes I propose to you are taken from the document on contemplating reality that the Society of Jesus has drawn up in preparation for its apostolic planning project. They are as follows:
Gratitude should always be present in our sensitivity to reality. Today is also a time of grace, and we must insist on this so as not to fall into a catastrophic view of our world. There is much good in our world, in our society, and in our Church. And while this should not make us complacent, neither should we fall into the opposite extreme of being only witnesses to calamities. We should avoid falling into catastrophic discourse or a culture of complaint (…).
Wisdom is the ability to seek depth. We must not be satisfied with slogans or fads. We have the challenge of putting our talents and our institutions at the service of the Gospel in this world. But to do so, we must not be stingy or remain on the surface of reality. (…) because we live in a world where reflection is being pushed aside, replaced by emotion and so-called post-truth.
Prophecy is still necessary today. We need voices that denounce, lights that shed light on the invisible reality of so many people today. We need witnesses, capable of assessing, with hope, what works, but also of denouncing, with courage, what does not. And it is not that there are none. There are prophets, and there are voices full of reason and hope. But we must support them and echo their calls. And, hopefully, we must join in their prophecy. We should not be content to be comfortable in a wealthy society. We need to regain our courage.
Open-mindedness. There is a tension that will always be there. The grain of wheat must fall on specific soil to bear fruit. That is the local perspective. To the specific context and reality to which we are sent. But at the same time, we are sent to a wide world, and we should not lose sight of the broadest possible reality, which always gives us perspective and helps us to reposition ourselves. Today, in this global and interconnected world, we have the possibility of a universal and fraternal vision and of networking, for which we still need to prepare ourselves.
Humility. Contemplating reality is, in itself, a goal that is both ambitious and impossible. Reality is very broad. And our abilities are limited. It is good to remember that this is a sketch, an incomplete painting, which others, from other perspectives, can enrich. And it is also worth remembering that we are not doing this with the intention of having solutions for every problem described, but as seekers of what our place and our mission should be. There is a necessary tension between recognizing what is subjective, incomplete, and limited in all learning about reality, and yet maintaining a healthy ambition to know more, get more right, and go deeper.
