The common good

National reconciliation for the common good. How can we go wrong if we all commit ourselves to this God-inspired mission, as we continue to suffer through our political-economic crisis? Both the outgoing and the incoming heads of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) are urging our leaders to break through political barriers and work for the common good of our people, especially the majority poor and underprivileged.

Archbishop Fernando Capalla, outgoing president of the CBCP, is urging political and religious leaders to hasten the process of reconciliation. "Our country today is rocked by warring factions who are full of hatred for one another. There is a lot of unpeace, social unrest and political turmoil because friendship has been broken."

Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, incoming CBCP president, insists that while the search for truth must still go on, the equally critical issues should be addressed and acted upon: the economic crisis, food, housing, employment, and education. "It is the poor who suffer most in the political turmoil…. Our search for truth must go on together with our struggle for justice and the common good … and the struggle for economic redemption."

On his part, Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales of Manila expressed his dismay in pointing out the root of our problems: The lack of internalized moral values. "We have lost some of our Christian values. We have lost the values of sacrifice and discipline. We have to change the mentality of Filipinos." This involves an on-going, never-ending effort in evangelizing our people toward the true values of the Gospel.

Take today’s Gospel message (Mt. 18: 21-35). It is all about forgiveness beyond limits. How unrealistic it all sounds. Once again, the pragmatic, practical-minded Peter asks Jesus: "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?" What Peter is really asking is: "Lord, when my brother wrongs me, how long before I get even? How many times must I ‘forgive’ before I retaliate?" In other words, is there no limit to forgiveness? Jesus’ answer is to tough to swallow. "Seventy times seven times."

How can we humans be so heroic as all that? Impossible! Until we begin to listen to God’s voice within us: "How many times do you think I have forgiven you – seven times? And how many more times will I continue to forgive you, till the last breath of your life? Do you want me to stop forgiving you? Do you want me to set an ultimatum and not forgive you anymore after a certain deadline in the future? If I hear you say, ‘No, Lord, please forgive me as often as I fail you, due to my human weakness and imperfection’, then I say to you: ‘Yes, you know I will do just that – but then I ask you to do the same to others. Forgive one another not seven times but seventy times seven times’."

Relating all this to our national situation – do we really want to be God-inspired or not? Is the Lord asking us to forgive one another or not? Whether we are pro-administration or anti-administration, what is the Lord telling us at this point in time, if our country is to move ahead where God is calling us? We must liberate ourselves from such stuckness and simply be PRO-GOD, all of us – whatever party or group we belong to.

Whatever is for the common good of our people is God’s will. Are we listening or not? Will we follow the Lord or not?

The move for a parliamentary system of government is an urgent issue that needs our collective discernment. Is the Lord calling us to this or not? Our leaders should actively prepare the mechanisms for such a discernment. Is the parliamentary system for the common good of our people or not? Let us ask the Lord for the political will to go where He is leading us.

The Jesuit Vocation Promotions Team invites male college students and young professionals to a Vocation Seminar. It is intended for those who are considering the priesthood or brotherhood in the religious life. There will be seminars on the following dates:

September 24, 2005 – St. Therese of the Child Jesus, UP-Los Baños, Laguna

September 24, 2005 – St. Paul University, Tuguegarao

September 25, 2005 – St. Paul University, Manila

For more details, please contact the Jesuit Promotions Office at tel. 426-6101 or mobile numbers (0927) 2184567 (Xave, SJ) and (0927) 6492119 (Shio, SJ).