Fighting until the end

Commentary

Sometimes we have a utopian, unrealistic idea of the love and life of a good family. We mistakenly assume that an “authentic and good” family has a heavenly life, free of problems and ups and downs, and everything is rosy inside their home. We imagine it to be made up of angelic beings – a team of spherical saints – who give love to each other every day, every moment, immune to any limitation and defect. We see our families and ourselves and feel far from that court of celestial chosen ones. Perhaps, for this very reason, we believe that these “Christian families” are fallacies or children’s stories made up by the Catholic Church.

However, never has the Church said anything as unrealistic as that. Instead, the Chruch insists that she is composed of human beings, that is, of a bunch of sinners who, nevertheless, believe in Jesus as their Redeemer and Savior.

Therefore, life within a Christian family is a struggle to love each other amidst people who have, each without exception, a remarkable assortment of defects, limitations, and rotten branches that must be pruned. It is incessant combat, with good and bad days and as many possibilities of action as shades in a color palette. However, authentic love is demonstrated amid this human scenario by truly looking at and embracing each other, giving ourselves, helping one another, and walking together.

The sincere and persevering disposition of wanting to improve as a family is enough for God to help us, inspire us, accompany us along the way and pour out his merciful love. He is not ashamed of us, nor does he turn his back on us when we are not a model family; his hand is always outstretched, ready to lift us and give us a renewed impulse to continue the battle. As we strive to love each other better, never giving up despite the ups and downs of the struggle, we are already winning. We are already growing in love. God accompanies this combat, a combat that is actually already a victory.