We Are All Connected

Many of us who are quite media oriented know there is no real peace this Christmas, a peace that can only be the result of order. The reason is because there are a lot of disorders in our social, political, cultural and religious life.

Martial law, CPP-NPA as terrorists, civil war, impeachment issues, war on drugs, anti-life laws etc. are forms of disorder. Deep down in the nitty-gritty of these things is a most serious and dangerous disorder – moral disorder. This is another word for sin.

Our Church leaders as the modern day prophets like John the Baptist have been calling our attention, not only during Advent but throughout the year, on the need for repentance, for sharpening our conscience through intense prayer and the sacrament of reconciliation. Severe callousness (kobal in Cebuano) has infested the conscience of many. In other words, we are encouraged to put in order our personal relationship with God and with one another. Indicators of orderly relations are respect, trust, fairness, charity, generosity, kindness, compassion, etc.

Pope Francis urged us strongly in Lodato Si that when there is order in our personal and family life, there will be order in the environment. When there is order in the environment there will be order in society and on the planet. For, human life and environmental life are interconnected in unity and harmony and in diversity. That is the way the humanity and the world were created by God.

So peace comes from order. We cannot, unless properly organized, eliminate the disorders mentioned above. But we can help hasten world and planetary peace by putting our personal life in order. This is why we peacemakers and peace builders sing, “Let there be peace on earth let it begin with me.”

Two models and exemplars of persons of order without the moral disorder of sin: Jesus Christ and Mary His Mother. That is why we call them Prince of Peace and Queen of Peace.

To all Herald’s management, staff, subscribers and readers an Orderly and Peaceful Christmas!