Peace!

ACCORDING to a report I received, panic, frustration and anger reigned in many precincts during election day because the supply of indelible ink ran out. To remedy the situation, the teachers had to hammer the right index fingers of the voters black and blue!

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The elections are over but up to now we are still experiencing panic, frustration and anger. How timely is Jesus' message of peace! "Peace be with you; I give you my peace. Not as the world gives peace do I give it to you." (Jn. 14, 23-29). To the winners, to the losers, and to all their supporters, and to our country, we reiterate Jesus' message -- PEACE!

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"If anyone loves me, he will keep my word." I wonder how many kept the word of God as their guiding principle in the past elections? I understand money really flowed, and consequently drowned so many. Were you one of those who used or received dirty money? Were you one of those who were silenced by money? Were you one of those who were blinded by money? Were you one of those who were deafened by money? The bottom line is: Did you sell out and let go of God's word, because of almighty, glorious money? Did money make you the monkey that sees nothing, says nothing and hears nothing?

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God and money are the two masters people follow in this world. Follow God, and you'll have peace. Follow money and you'll have fleeting peace, with its lifetime consequences (and even beyond!) Sad to say, there are those who mightily proclaim God but, in the last elections, succumbed to the Mammon. They violated not only our people's rights. They killed not only democracy. They abused God himself. And they did all this, ironically, in the name of God. And,
wonder of wonders, they are getting away with it. Only in the Philippines!

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I stand proud and glad that I belong to a church that did not sell out, a church that did not enforce bloc voting, a church that educated the voters, a church that vigilantly watched the votes. I stand doubly proud and glad that I belong to a church that fights for democracy whenever needed, that does not wallow in the spoils and rewards of its struggle; a church that does not "sit on the fence" waiting to "support" the winner, any winner. The other churches may have their billions and Cabinet positions, but I have my peace, that peace which the world cannot give or take away.

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Given the uncertain and restive situation we are in now, let us not forget that we have a helper, an advocate, a comforter in the person of the Holy Spirit. Whatever situation we are in, let us continuously pray "Come Holy Spirit! Come Holy Spirit." In line with this, allow me to share with you a prayer I received from an anonymous 76-year-old reader: "Come Holy Spirit, replace the tension within us with your peace; the turbulence within us with your sacred calm; the anxiety within us with a quiet confidence; the fear within us with a strong faith; the bitterness within us with a sweetness of grace, the darkness within us with a gentle light; the coldness within us with a loving warmth; the night within us with your new day." Amen!

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"Do not be troubled; do not be afraid." Let the message of Jesus be our comfort and assurance in these troubled times.

He is with us. Evil and the agents of evil may seem to triumph for a while, but only for a while. In the end, goodness will emerge victorious, justice will prevail and God will make all things beautiful in His time. Through it all, we must continue to have hope. We must hold on to our belief in fresh starts and new beginnings.

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There is life beyond the elections. We must move on and get going. We must not be bogged down by the baggage of the past. Peace in our hearts depends a lot on our ability to let go, and let God. We must see the Big Picture and not focus on the could be's and should be's, the could-have-beens and the should-have-beens. In the end, believe that in everything that happens, there is a reason, there is a mission. No matter what happens, as long as you see the reason and know the mission, then you can have peace.

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While we adults are all busy with our concerns, let us not forget the children who will inherit our mess. The way we do politics now will definitely affect their future. The way we live our lives will have a bearing on the quality of their lives. Many of us are so engrossed in being or trying to be on the center stage that we forget two things: that we will have to make our exit, and that the children will have to make their entrance.

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Speaking of children, please help send the Hail Mary the Queen Children's Choir of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral to the Choir Olympics in Bremen, Germany this coming July. Call Dinna Z. Sarmiento +63 917 540 8787 or +63 2 727 7486.

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, help us to have peace, and use us to be instruments of peace with the help of the Holy Spirit. Amen.