INCLUSIVENESS
THE INVISIBLE HAND OF GOD
By: The Rev. Fr. Hermogenes P. Verano, DPA
Mission Priest, Diocese of Greater Manila Area
"Provided that societies stay mindful of the challenges that capitalism creates and never forget the paramount importance of inclusion and equal opportunity, we can and should celebrate the miracle of free enterprise and the billions of souls it has helped free from desperate poverty."
-Dalai Lama
The Bible is traditionally the basis of our faith and existence as a worshipping community. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, it serves as the moral compass in giving as light and direction to our lives' journey on earth. Illustrating God's indomitable and unremitting act of inclusiveness, it expresses a lasting virtue He apparently expects us to emulate as Christians.
Aside from the intelligible salient examples demonstrated in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, the illustrations are aplenty. We have read about Jesus' miraculous feeding of the five thousand and more people. They were presumably of diverse origin and perhaps of different beliefs and persuasions. Worried, His disciples insinuated to the Lord to just let the people go home because they found it almost impossible to feed them. Instead, He ordered the disciples to just let the sea of humanity sit and converge. Fortunately, however, out of five loaves of unleavened bread and two fish courtesy of a young man, He miraculously fed the already tired and hungry mouths.
Another instance, a pagan woman, persistently asked Jesus to heal her daughter possessed by a demon. Remember that His only mission was for the chosen people of Israel. Yet, with the insistent faith of the mother, He granted the request.
Arguably, the stories about the Good Samaritan, Mary Magdalene, and other testimonial facts about Jesus’ unrelenting manifestations of charity are only glimpses of His boundless expressions of inclusivity. These are patents that He wants us to patiently follow.
Unfortunately, when institutional religions, sects, and denominations were invented and faithfully pursued, the direction changes. Exclusivity creeps in. They become fastidiously quite selective. Helping and caring seem to be confined and limited only to what is specified. Concerns are relegated to "tayo-tayo" or "kami-kami" scenario. Fortifications of churches tend to be apparent where limits stand. Self-preservation continues to thrive. Sometimes servicing to people is just a photo/ops akin to a "lip service" only to be seen and recognized as well.
Without exception, non-religious organizations like the government as well as exclusive societies or fraternities seem to focus not on inclusivity but exclusivity. Transparency and accountability become problems. For many people, self-aggrandizement for political power and wealth are assiduously aspired for, leaving those who have no means to fend for themselves.
In conclusion, an inspiring commentary should inspire us about the inclusive way: "Humanity is a reality of community as it is in the image of divinity. Interdependence is a basic tenet of faith. We believe and we belong. An active, solidly-founded faith moves to include everyone in the community. It moves to include everyone, goes out to the peripheries, seeks the marginalized, and rejoices upon finding the one lost sheep.” (PDI, 8/21/15)
