Spiritually preparing for elections

Alarming news appear daily about several negative scenarios before, during, and even after this year's May elections.

The recent move of the SC to allow the selection of a Chief Justice by GMA has raised concern over the independence of the SC as well as the looming possibility of a failure of elections that may involve a partisan SC. The recent military appointment of GMA has also brought back memories of the still-unresolved allegations of electoral fraud involving GMA, Garci and some military officials.

Even without any failure of elections, there remains much anxious anticipation of post-election concerns. Questions such as will there be peaceful transition to a new set of elected officials, will the elected also turn out to be genuine public servants, will the country finally brought to a high moral ground, and so on increase electoral-related anxiety and worries.

We can remain in fear and in doubt.

Or we can choose to free ourselves and leap in faith as a nation that this year's electoral process will be a liberating experience for our people.

If we believe that real change can take place this year, if we believe that this year's elections will really bring the much-needed genuine change that will lift up our people and our country, then let us make this year's elections one that is memorably different and unique from all others.

Together, as a nation, with much faith, gratitude and supplication, let us lift this year's elections for God to bless, for God to protect, for God to gift us all with honest and sincere elected public servants!

We are always reminded to pray for good leaders, for clean and honest elections but are we praying together, as a whole nation, for God to turn our nation around not only with a very honest electoral process but with worthy public servants emerging as truly elected, proclaimed leaders?

Shall we try to do that from this year onward, shall we all start to prepare spiritually for this year's elections?

Can the Church be inspired and guided to spearhead that spiritual campaign to prepare for honest elections and real public servants to emerge as winners? Can each and every community be encouraged to have public prayers focused on praising and thanking the Lord for giving us a legitimate electoral exercise and real worthy winners this May?

Can our spiritual leaders guide us through this Lenten season to add our united prayer as a people for a very godly election? Can our other brothers and sisters of other faiths and denomination join our spiritual crusade for clean and honest elections?

Can we ask various political parties and all candidates to spare some period before, during, and after elections for prayers, for spiritual bonding, to raise our prayers to the Lord to bless this year's elections and to thank Him for making real change possible for our people, for our nation from this year onward?

A nation, a people in prayer and faith before, during, and after elections. What do you think? Is this spiritual campaign one that we can all do together?

May we call on all to think about this spiritual campaign and to pray for this suggestion to be considered by each and every one? Shall we pray too that soon, from this month onwards, till and after May, we will rely solely on the power of collective and united faith and prayer and supplication to have the election and the leaders we have long hoped to have.

The spiritual campaign can come in many forms. Prayer rallies, processions, worship concerts, multi-media presentations and so on. God loves a prayerful people!

We have had several spiritual experiences as a people, as a nation throughout several moments in our history. Martial law had over-extended its rule and many Filipinos have resigned themselves to more continuing years of dictatorship. However, the collective faith and prayers of the Filipinos in EDSA and elsewhere throughout the country made the impossible possible. After Ondoy, when more calamities were predicted to harm our people, collective faith and prayers shielded and protected our people, our country. Every Sinulog is a testimony of how much grace God pours when a united people remember to put their complete faith and trust in Him.

Can continuing, collective faith and prayer and supplication once again be our best weapon to shield us from dishonest elections this May? Can continuing collective faith, prayers, supplication and thanksgiving open heaven's gates for God's grace of worthy leaders for us all, for our country?

Nothing to lose if we have more collective prayers, if we do this spiritual campaign as a nation. So much to gain instead- inner peace, stronger faith, unity, among others.

Shall we try this suggestion then? Shall we all pray for a collective, united spiritual nation to prepare us for this year's elections?

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