“To unite in a single purpose”

I began encoding this column last Sunday evening, August 25. I finished it at the Davao International Airport the following morning of August 26, the beginning of the “Million People March to Luneta”.

When through social media the urgent call to a massive demo against the pork barrel erupted into public notice, instant support nationwide and diverse comments hugged the breaking news reports in the tri-media.
As the hot issue developed and increased the momentum of people’s outrage, commentators asked what would be the outcome of such an unprecedented popular happening? Nobody knows exactly in detail. Only God knows.

Most common among the predictions is the abolition of the pork barrel system. There are those who expect the downfall of the Aquino administration. At midnite I received a text suggesting civil disobedience thru non-payment of taxes. The most insightful and far-reaching suggestion is the change of the system that allows this corrupt practice. The change would necessitate a new Constitution which in turn would necessitate the election of honest leaders in government. For this purpose the electorate must be educated.

This last thought was in my mind when preparing my homily for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary time. I was struck by the Opening Prayer or Collect of the Mass: “O God, who cause the minds of the faithful to unite in a single purpose, grant your people to love what you command and to desire what you promised, that, amid the uncertainties of this world, our hearts may be fixed on that place where true gladness is found…”.

In next week’s Shalom I shall the develop the need of a systemic and constitutional change as the call of the present moment “to unite in a single purpose” so that, “amid the uncertainties of [today’s] world [ Philippines], “our hearts may be fixed on that place [single purpose] where true gladness is found”.

I believe that this Opening Prayer summarizes last Sunday’s Readings : Isaiah 66:18-21, Responsorial Psalm 117: 1, 2; Hebrews 12: 5-7, 12-13; Luke 13: 22-30. The Word of God in these passages of Scripture can help us see the moral dimension in the burning issues of the day like the pork barrel scam and help us to discern the proper Christian attitude and involvement.