Return to the core of our faith

All of us, including me, of course, have succumbed to the clarion call to take sides on the Proclamation 1017. This means we are called upon to consider at least two opposing views - the right and wrong sides of PP 1017. It demands from each of us a judgment call. It polarizes us into two camps, at least. We, who believe we are on the right, condemn the opposite as wrong. No in-between the two opposing viewpoints.

We have engaged in verbal bashing. There are even talks that criticism have led some to contemplate the possibility of a coup, the very argument for the issuance of PP 1017.

Although President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had lifted it, the chilling effect of that proclamation still hangs as a sword of Damocles over our heads. I mean, especially the practising mediamen.

Somehow, our overriding concern for the possible has made us overlook our central concern for the Lenten Season. The Gospel reading on Sunday was Christ's reminder to all of us on how we can resolve our country's ills. This is summed up in Alay Kapwa of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

In short, in the last judgment, we shall be divided into sheep and goats--- those on the right, the sheep and on the left, the goats.

Their distinguishing mark is simple- for I was hungry and you fed me. For I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me into your house. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to visit me.

That was the clear prescription of how we can bring about the transformation of our society. Not through grandiloquent pronouncements or mind boggling dramatics, but just the simple translation into actuality of that mandate - "Love one another as I have loved you."

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra summed it up at Saturday's anticipated mass for Msgr. Antonio Y. Fortich by adverting to the Alay Kapwa call by the CBCP. In short, we are our neighbors' keepers. We share not only our abundance, but also our substance - ourselves with the marginalized and the less privileged members of our society.

And there are too many of them around. That number, just reminds us that we have failed to address our sins, especially those of societal dimension. We cannot all the time point the finger to others for not having abided with the social call for charity or love. Instead, we should introspect and own where we have contributed to that failure to repent and convert.

Perhaps, the 2006 Lenten Season can help the miraculous transformation of our society if we only take time out to examine our actions and decisions, then repent for our sins of commission and omission. And do our share in helping others.

We cannot remain disinterested. As Christians we are duty-bound to spread the Good News to the entire world. And we can do it by simply doing what we are supposed to do. We know what we have to. We can't escape that. We can only rationalize our apathy, but we cannot escape our conscience pricking us to the realization that we failed the Savior.

It is not Christ who has failed. It is us who have failed Christ.

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Yesterday, Jimmy Araneta told me about his surprise win-a BMW. That should have elated him. But Jimmy felt something was wrong. He had not bought the ticket which had won him the prize. The same thing had happened to me once. "Immediately, sensing something was wrong, I phoned the secretary of the lawyer who reportedly was going to process my winning and told her I was giving my power of attorney to Felix de los Santos of the Philippines Star to pick it up in Parañaque where they reportedly had their office.

After that, they no longer responded to my repeated calls. I had hoped to bag the suspected swindler/swindlers.

That may have been what happened to roomboy Nicolas Casuncad of Barangay Dos Hermanas, Talisay City. He was reportedly sweet-talked into swindling the Cadiz City wife of an alleged seaman into parting with her money.

The first to have touched her was a certain Ambassador Golez who painted himself as a hero who wanted to rescue her husband from death, then later planned to send him to Borneo for his safety. And the ambassador needed P89,465.10 in cash for his treatment. Later, the Dr. Ledesma also contracted her and asked for another P10,000 as her husband's rental for his condominium.

In short, the roomboy later proceeded to Manila to deliver the money to his "friend." Then, he was given the fare home plus P400 for his effort. Unfortunately, he was the one who got it on the noose with his arrest by the police upon arrival at the Bacolod Airport.*

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