The secret is to seek and look at the diverse with a legitimate intention of opening our minds; understand what our neighbor wants to say, or at least give the chance to our brother show us why he thinks differently than you.

I always like to say: “Please I beg you to convince me!” Yes, because every wise Mason cries out for wisdom. He who thirsts to learn does not ignore the advice of the wise and does not run away from hearing different opinions.

Opinions are not to be tolerated, rather, they are to be listened to. So that in the innermost parts of your soul, you may confront with yourself and prove if in fact your convictions are still convictions.

On the contrary, those who refute other opinions without hearing them out or without understanding from where these opinions came from, Solomon, our first Grand Master, and considered the wisest men on earth, said that all these mans are FOOLS.

I realize that when I present reflections on themes of any intrinsic nature or related to our constitution as Masons, our own DNA, some react in a very aggressive way. It is like looking in the mirror and seeing their own faults but instead of wanting to change, they rather prefer to break the mirror.

The constitution of our order mandates that we obey certain moral principles that ground all of our ritualistic logic and our order as a whole. We Masons in the past, were and always have been loyal to every constituted government but on the other hand we also fought against authoritarian governments, usurpers of rights and governments that violated our moral code or our Masonic Ethics.

Freemasons are Universalists. We believe that all human beings are made by the image and likeness of The G.A.O.T.U. We believe in the equal society of rights, duties and freedoms as a greater good. We believe in the moral compassion of offering humanitarian aid to the afflicted and we have done that for centuries.

See how interesting this is: the operative Masons embraced the philosophers, artists and other professionals who took refuge in our order during persecutions. If the Masons didn’t accept the Templars, the brothers who escaped from Portugal, Italy and France to the operative lodges there would not be speculative Freemasonry. I found out that the right of a Mason to “Travel” to foreign countries is from our very original nature. We were thus originated by being “accepted” into to the operative Freemasonry.

So dear Brother I’m trying to encourage you to raise your soul to where it should be. Let not selfishness and our self-centric nature vanquish our reason or blind our hearts.

There are millions dying of hunger that we cannot ignore. Stand up against injustice. Be loyal to your government and love your homeland, but do not forget the supreme values of our universal society that are the moral landmarks of our institution.

Do not forget that children are dying of starvation, victims of poverty and inequality. Let us not close the doors of our hearts. I now intercede with the Great Architect of the Universe to enlighten us more and may we have clarity to see the human pain.

Being a Freemason is also to confront reality and not to conform with injustice.

May our hearts, oh Lord, be filled with forgiveness and compassion. Teach us to love the one who differs from our thinking. May we truly love our neighbor. Give us Freemasons love and compassion for all.

~LMA

WB Luciano M. Azevedo holds an MBA and Bachelor in Business Administration. He has published several scientific and philosophical essays and articles in the secular world. As a sommelier he wrote his own column for a major wine magazine for many years. In Freemasonry Brother “Lou” has contributed with many articles from a philosophical basic approach to an ethical decision-making in regards to masonic conduct. He is the current Worshipful Master of Zurich Lodge 1089 of A.F&A.M of the State of Illinois. W. Bro Luciano is also a member or the Grand Lodge Leadership Committee of the State of Illinois, a 32 Degree active member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Chicago and a Shrine Noble of the Medinah Shriners.