Yellow Pad

God's Word and National Renewal

(From Last Sunday's Gospel)

Change begins from within- from the heart and mind of people. What is needed is metanoia, which is conversion that implies a new way of thinking. Change begins with the spirit of the person. This being the case, change does not only involve the heart and the will of the human person, but the action of God who touches hearts with his Spirit and with his Word.

The theme: God's Word: Power for National Renewal. True renewal will be possible only when it is the Word of God that empowers people to fight apathy and corruption and inspires them to order all aspects of life on truth, justice peace, and concern for the poor and the weak.

This Sunday's Gospel underlines Jesus' exousia, his authority and power. The authority of Jesus does not lie primarily in the power of his arguments, like some exposition of a learned rabbi. The authority of Jesus lies in his word that effects what it commands.

"He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him,"

the people cry out in astonishment. The word of Jesus is like the creative word of God at work in creation.. God said,

"Let there be light", and there was light. (Gn 1:3)

It is to the Word of God that we must have recourse in our search for national renewal. It is the word that judges us, that exposes us for who we are:

"The word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern
reflections and thoughts of the heart." (Heb 4:12)

It is the word that consoles the afflicted and the repentant, that infuses the soul with faith, hope and love. It is the word that is:

"useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction and for training in righteousness" (1 Tim 3:16)

"It is the word that can build us up and give us inheritance among all who are consecrated". (Acts 20:32)

In this message, we lament for the shameful title we have earned as one of the corrupt countries in the world despite our name as Christians. Is our national malaise traceable to our Christian faith, so that we can deduce that Christaianity has failed?

Those who really know what true faith is say that if Christianity has ever failed, it is because it has never been truly tried. The Word of God has probably not truly been lived.

Fr. Gil A. Alinsangan, SSP

posted by Celestine @ 3:26 PM