Monday, March 24, 2008 Editorial: Rinsing sins and more
CATHOLIC Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Jaro Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo in his Easter message urged the Catholics to "transform the world with the life of the Risen Christ."
On Sunday, millions trooped to the beach for the Easter Sunday dip.
The three-paragraphed message from Archbishop Lagdameo somehow alludes to what is happening around us, but is broad enough such that it can be interpreted in many other ways, depending on which side of the fence you are on.
"The resurrection of Jesus cannot be separated from his public life and death; otherwise we will fail to understand both," the archbishop said, and we see the pricking ears of both the pros and the cons in this conflict-ridden government we have, both sides trying to find an ally in the words the archbishop spoke.
But these same pricked up ears would soon flatten like a forlorn bunny because, once again, all those ranting for heavens to be on their side cannot seem to find an ally in the Church and so they shout and challenge, demanding a clear stand while invoking memories of the most revered Jaime Cardinal Sin.
Amid the insults and brickbats thrown the Church's way, we can only praise its leaders for standing firm on their call for a deep reflection so that once and for all, the Filipinos will put nationhood above all else in their demands for reform.
The congressmen, for one, can start off by not keeping track of the special allotment release order (Saro) from the Department of Budget and Management for projects in their districts because this means they will soon get their percentage of the project.
We need not look far in our charges of corruption, they're right within our reach. But for as long as we can only bear to point at the present occupant of Malacañang and not ourselves, then we're not going anywhere.
"Where Christians follow the footsteps of Jesus in alleviating from whatever pain and suffering they have, in loving as Jesus loves, there will be no crisis of resurrection faith. But where involvement in the suffering of people, where love is lacking, it is difficult to think that Jesus resurrected, almost hypocritical to celebrate the truth of Easter," Lagdameo said, as we recall Black and White Movement member Leah Navarro saying she's having second thoughts about her religion because the CBCP has chosen to be irrelevant by calling for a communal action instead of a march to Edsa, and national broadband deal scam star witness Jun Lozada saying the same when he was denied audience in Cebu.
Easter Sunday has come and gone. It was just yesterday, and yet we're back at work, the mob in the beach already forgotten as we have already soaped and rinsed off the saltwater we dipped ourselves in. Even that remnant of an age-old belief of cleansing our bodies of our sins by going to the beach is already past, all but the dipping has remained; its significance to our faith have long been forgotten as we busy ourselves picking up the beach toys and clothes, accounting for each and every item and child, leaving no time to reflect on our faith.
But as we have rinsed off and packed up all our vacation things, may we not have rinsed off and packed up the Easter message as well. Its significance remains way past Sunday as the message of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection remains throughout every Christian's lifetime; may we not forget.
