Martial Law for Greatness?

Martial law was a vision designed to bring our country to the path of greatness. Unfortunately, this one man rule had no solidarity with the people. Freedom was curtailed, representation was moribund, and power was further concentrated to the few with the backing of police power. As a result, the people felt left out, oppressed, and angry.
As resistance developed, violence escalated. The “New Society” of the Marcos Administration was well entrenched. To reinforce his obstinacy, he said, “I had no intention to die.” However, their plans unraveled when the people, all together, got fed up; culminating in the EDSA Revolution. The rest is history. Never again!
It is interesting to note, the people rallied around the Church. Rightly so, the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ has the highest standard in faith and morals. The Church is a guide; the standard bearer is Christ, the Shepherd who guides the people through the clergy. However, when it comes to organizational functions and dynamics, programs, project implementations, etc., God has endowed the laity gifts of participation for after all; we all belong to one Church.
The bishops and priests preach, teach, form, and administer the Sacraments, thus strengthening the faith and the moral fiber of everyone. In whatever undertaking, be it social, economic, or political, if bereft of faith and morals, the people become hostile to the Church and subsequently, civilization declines. There are even personalities who detest this guidance of the Church, justifying it as interference in the state or secular affairs. If we look at the 20th century, for example, the bloodiest century saw the philosophical thoughts of man that only succeeded in debasing himself. Millions perished out of ignorance and malice. As St. Josemaria Escriva says, “Only the stupid are obstinate: the very stupid are very obstinate.”
Against this selfish tendency of man is the Church that espouses self-giving. We celebrate the martyrdom of a lay person, San Lorenzo Ruiz whose blood became the seed of the Church (Tertullian).
May we be humble enough to work hand in hand in solidarity and only then we can make this nation great again.

By Johnny Sulit/Contributor