Looking beyond

THE STORY is told about a drunkard whose philosophy was: "I mix rum with water, I get drunk. I mix gin with water, I get drunk. I mix whiskey with water, I get drunk. Ergo, from now on, I'll never drink water!"

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In today's Gospel (Jn. 6, 24-35) Jesus expresses His frustration with the crowd who misses the point, and who cannot see beyond their stomachs. They were looking for Him not because they saw signs, but because they ate the loaves and were filled.

While it is true that our basic material needs are real, and even urgent, we must look beyond these. Jesus warns us against being short-sighted and near-sighted. Yes, we must have an eye for details, but we also must have an eye for the big picture. It is like driving: We cannot keep our eyes on the instrumentation panel all the time. To do that would be to court disaster. We must constantly focus on the road up ahead.

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Have we learned our lesson? We miss the whole point if we go back to politics and personalities after the recent coup attempt. The issues raised by these young, idealistic soldiers should be a wake-up call for all of us. Thank God, we still have people who dream dreams, who point to the big picture, and remind us not to be complacent or comfortable. The medium may have been questionable, but the message was clear, and valid.

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I am glad the Inquirer featured a mother's role in last Sunday's negotiations. It was Lt. (s.g.) Antonio Trillanes IV's mother who interceded for the extension of the 5 p.m. deadline set by the President. Beyond ideologies, beyond rank, beyond titles, beyond achievements or failures, Sonny was a son to Mrs. Trillanes and will always be a son.

For me, it was the victory of the heart, and from my Marian heart, a very beautiful reminder of Mama Mary's role as our intercessor. But again, we cannot see these if we are all too focused on the details, the nuts and bolts, the necessities, urgencies and the realities which keep us from looking beyond.

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The ability to transcend, to look beyond is something we all need to learn in life. This is a warning to politicians and government officials who wallow in money and power now. Power is not forever. They too will retire or grow old. Their greed and their lies will catch up with them sooner or later. With all their ill-gotten wealth, they will not have peace because they know they have deprived people especially the poor, of what is rightfully theirs. Guilt and fear will haunt them.

We've said it before, and we'll say it again: Crime does not pay. It is better to be good than to be bad. You may get away with it now, but you won't get away with it forever. Yes, there is such a thing as divine justice, which though slow and delayed at times, will surely come.

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I am fortunate to have met an angel in the person of Fatima Soriano who, by her very person, has taught me how to look beyond. Last July 7, a 10-year-old girl from Kawit, Cavite, called me during my Monday evening program "Hello Father" aired on ZNN Veritas every 9 p.m. She had a vibrant and joyful voice. As we talked, she casually told me to pray for her because she is on dialysis every day. Every day? Yes, five times a day, she said.

As we talked on, I found out that she stays in her room most of the time, and that she gets to play outside daily for 15 minutes only, but she sits in the living room for five minutes, before going back to her room again!

I told her I wanted to see her some time, but again, casually and with a chuckle, she said, "How can I see you Father, eh ... I'm blind!"

All the listeners and I were close to tears as we listened to this little girl throw her cares away so casually, while many of us are so busy throwing our cares to God and to others.

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I went out of my way to visit this little angel from Kawit. What I met was a little girl with a frail body and a staunch and joyful heart. There she was with her pain and inconveniences, but always reaching out, so thoughtful and considerate of everybody. Her parents told me that she gathers their neighbors and leads the rosary every night.

Fatima is teaching us to look beyond, to be hopeful and to be cheerful in spite of trials and pain. What an inspiration to meet a little child who knows how to transcend, in a world full of adults whose lifetime concern is to have more and to ascend.

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At my request, Fatima regularly calls my radio program every Monday night. Since then, there have been fewer people calling to tell us about their personal woes and miseries. They, too, have learned to look beyond. I hope more people will get to hear and see more of this little angel.

I hope we get to hear and see less of politicians and entertainers who look good but who do not look beyond, and who do not help us to look beyond.

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, more than looking well and looking good, teach me to look beyond. Amen.