We passionately involve in many activities and movements. It may be in our profession, service, in religious activities, conducting programmes etc. We also engage in devotional practices. We are often very passionate and energetic.
Something we need to acquire along with passion is communion. In order to enter into communion with what we are engaged in, it is necessary that we are able to interact with them, or to have dialogue with them. Our own actions and enthusiasm will become communicative, and gradually making it possible that we transcend this interaction and enter into a communion with God who is the source of inspirations and innovations and bring them to their own very proper end.
At the same time we also see that unreflected and imprudent passion and enthusiasm has damaged families and communities. Here the element of communion is absent in attempting to make up a kingdom.
"It is 'I' who have to establish the kingdom." - Without 'me' the group, the office, the movement, the church etc cannot not function. only if 'I' am there things will be in order."
"The kingdom is in the way that 'I' think and imagine." - things have to be in the way that I want.
Thus ultimately it becomes 'my' kingdom.
The tendency to establish 'my own kingdom' shows that I have not begun to 'leave everything.' That is why Jesus asked to 'deny yourself and follow.' The way we try to practice denial and detachment unfortunately creating another favourable self, a religious or a pious self. A closer look at ourselves shows that the cherished self of ours is formed by many forms of hypocrisy that we have sacralised. That is the self that we are not ready to deny because somehow they offer easy ways (Mt 7: 13) to enter. These are identity mechanisms at work, which also provide for popularity and social approval.If someone happens to unmask these, or open an attack we can be sure that we 'bring down fire' on people (Lk 9:54).
It is impossible to walk behind Christ with our decorated and sacralised hypocrisies. We must take up our crosses which is the reality of our own life.
Communion can put us in right self with ourselves, our professions, activities, ministries, and God. It is a contemplative approach of living our normal life with laughter and joy, hard works and pleasures, fatigue and crisis. What we lack is a contemplative dialogue with our own life, our truth, hypocrisies, fears etc. The life itself will tell us its meaning and depth and take us to communion.
