Promotion of common good
THE VALUE of common good “refers to either what is shared and beneficial for all or most members of a given community.”
A contemporary scholar calls it the “good proper to, and attainable only by, the community, yet individually shared by its members.”
The president, Rodrigo Roa Duterte said, “Love of country, subordination of personal interests to the common good, concern and care for the helpless and the impoverished – these are among the lost and faded values that we seek to recover and revitalize as we commence our journey towards a better Philippines.”
In light of the latter statement, “a nation is formed by the willingness of each of us to share in the responsibility for upholding the common good.”
The value on common good is fundamental in family-building, community-building, and nationbuilding and must be promulgated, established, and applied; and every individual could be a catalyst on the promotion by being a channel of the common good.
As St. Francis of Assisi said, “Where there is darkness, be the light; where there is sadness, bring a smile; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, bring faith; where there is hatred, bring love; and where there is despair in life, bring hope.”
Cory Booker said, “Patriotism is love of country. But you cannot love your country without loving your countrymen and countrywomen. We do not always have to agree, but we must empower each other, we must find the common ground, we must build bridges across our differences to pursue the common good.”
Consequently, be a channel of the common good by being a blessing to someone else life, a peace-maker among your peers, and an encourager in your field of service.
In the Scripture, the value of the common good in properties is observed, it says, “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had” (Acts 4:32).
Accordingly, there were no needy persons among them. The principle behind the noble act was everything a person has, comes from God, and he only shares what is already his. Indeed, one’s possessions and positions are God’s merely entrusted to be utilized for the common good of the family, community, and society.