This happens when we allow ourselves not to be guided by faith. No matter how intelligent and smart we are, if we are not guided by our Christian faith, it would just be a matter of time before we become the worst beast on earth, inflicting all kinds of evils far worse than what other animals can cause.
We need to remember that man, as designed by God our Creator, is made a rational animal, and as such, is made to make a choice of whether to enter into the supernatural life of God or to remain natural.
We are first an animal before we are rational. If our rationality is not guided and animated by our faith, then no matter how intelligent and smart we may be, we simply remain as animals. Sooner or later, our animality would take over, and we can become the worst animals since we can make use of our rationality to follow the urges of our animality.
The duty for us to take our Christian faith seriously is no joke. We really have to see to it that we are always consistent to our Christian faith, not only from day to day, but also from moment to moment, so we can achieve the real dignity God wants to give us—that is, to be his image and likeness, to be sharers of his very own life and nature.
But if we would just be humble enough and persistent in our efforts, the effects of faith and God’s grace can be felt by us. And if we try our best to be receptive and responsive to them, for sure we will see the happiest reality that indeed we are God’s children, members of his family, intimately sharing in God’s life and nature.
We truly need to be Christ-like, to be “alter Christus,” if not, “ipse Christus.” In short, we need to be Christ, the pattern of our humanity and savior of our damaged humanity. Without him, the only possible thing for us is to be an animal. We may be intelligent and smart, but just an animal, and the worst of all animals. (Fr. Roy Cimagala)
