When will we ever learn?

THE STORY is told about a fox who told a bird that he would give a worm in exchange for a feather. Wonderful, the bird thought. A new way to get worms easily! So the bird pulled out a feather from one of its wings, and in return he received a worm. But soon, the bird had plucked out so many feathers that it could no longer fly away, and so the fox jumped on it, and ate it up, easily.

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In today's Gospel (Jn. 13, 31-35) Jesus gives us a new commandment to love one another. A lot of religions also speak about love, but it was only Jesus who commanded that we love one another "just as I have loved you." With Jesus, love ceased to be just an ideal. He concretized it, and he elevated the limits of love to the max. Jesus showed us the way of true love by His very life, and by the way He died for others.

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A lot of "foxes" are on the loose these days, promising worms to innocent and helpless birds they will eventually devour. Tomorrow, as we go to the polls, let us not exchange our feathers for worms. Let us not give or sell our votes to people whom we know will just eat us once they are in power. Looking at the way we do politics in our country, I can say we are still a long way from Jesus' mandate of loving one another. Expect a lot of using one another, buying one another, cheating one another, destroying one another, and even eliminating one another. When, oh when, will we ever learn?

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Two things sadden me in these coming elections: the poverty of choices, and the power of money. We really don't have much choice given the kind of candidates we have before us. Many of them, I'm afraid will be chosen on the basis of puwede na rin, okay lang, lesser evil na lang. The other sad thing is that money has become the bottom line. Logistics, machinery and winnability have become the deciding factors in our elections. We are still very much in the three G's of Guns, Goons and Gold. Here's praying that someday soon we will uphold the three G's of God, Goodness and Guts. When, oh when, will we ever learn?

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On the eve of the elections, let us pause and remember our mothers. Happy Mother's Day! If only we went back to the basic lessons and examples our mothers gave us, then we will learn what it is really like to love one another. A mother's heart approximates God's heart closest. Mothers rarely operate on a quid pro quo basis. They simply love, sans fanfare, sans conditions, sans agenda. And yet, mothers are the ones who are most neglected, most hurt, and often, least appreciated. Such is the fate of those who truly and really love. And, as fate would have it, they continue loving anyway. God bless you, dear mothers!

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Believe me, this country continues to run because there are simple, hardworking, dedicated, loving mothers out there who love, in season and out of season; and, definitely, not like our politicians who "love" us only during, and only because of elections. Come to think of it, we should be grateful that our country is still running after all these years, in spite of our politicians.

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We all have fond memories of our own mothers. Let us take time to remember and cherish them, especially today. Personally, I cherish the memory of Mama who would go to us and cover us, her children, with blankets at night when she thought we were already sleeping. I can never forget waking up at night and seeing my mother making sure that we, her children, were all right. Mothers, may you continue your beautiful mission of leaving behind beautiful memories to your sons and daughters.

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Through my cousin Kuya Pakit Muñoz, I am one of those who had the privilege to watch the Andrea Bocelli concert last April 30. It was an amazing experience. Many times during the concert, I was brought to a moment of prayer. What an inspiration to see how a person can rise above personal deprivation and handicap and raise up others as well. What struck me though was Marcello Rota, the conductor of the orchestra, who not only provided the beautiful musical accompaniment, but who gave the perfect assist as well. The sight of Rota leading blind master Bocelli by the hand before and after every number is a memory I will long remember, a beautiful reminder for all of us to help one another, and love one another.

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May the Blessed Mother bless our motherland! May she raise up in our midst sons and daughters who work not just for the elections, but for the good of the nation. Let us all pray and work for fair, peaceful and just elections. Watch out for the "foxes." Let us hold on to the Lord's promise that the meek and the righteous will inherit the earth.

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A moment with the Lord

Lord, teach us as your children and as a people to really love one another, just as you have loved us. Amen.