Wavering faith

First published in Daily Tribune under Anthony Vivero's Vibes and Vision dated November 30, 2009.





Many say they are faithful, but are they true to their word? Many profess that they love God, and yet they don’t love their fellowmen. Many are religious, but they serve themselves, not the Church. All want to go to heaven when they die, but many are not ready. Examine yourself, and chances are, it is not yet too late!


God vs Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao’s latest triumph in the international boxing arena makes every Filipino crazy with extreme pride. Yes, we are a Christian nation and even Pacquiao and his mother are very religious, if not deeply spiritual. In this sense, Pacquiao’s family’s faith is not the question here, but ours.

I’ve watched every fight of our boxing icon. There is no doubt about my own enthusiasm for the game, the good matches and exciting blow by blow punches therein, and the eventual win of our champion in his every battle. It really makes me proud to be a Filipino. Pacquiao brings pride and glory to our land. But when it comes to my faith in God, there is no doubt at all that I will choose God above anyone.

As I prepared myself to watch the recent Pacman fight, I felt the sudden prodding to go to Manaoag Church in Pangasinan — an overwhelming sensation of being “told” to visit the Shrine. I never question that kind of “feeling” or “sensation” every time it envelopes me, not even when I was so eager to watch Manny’s boxing battle with Cotto. throughout my life, I’ve always received “messages” during or after a trip and most times, when I’m in the Manaoag Church.

So instead of watching the Pacman-Cotto boxing match, I left home and started the long road trip to Pangasinan. The trip went smooth and easy.

When I got there, I was saddened while looking at the Church grounds. The parking lot was near empty. Whereas, on any given Sunday like this, the parking space would be full of vehicles. I was disheartened to find the Church empty as well! You could count the number of people inside the Church — a first for me to ever see it that “lonely.”

Did Pacquiao have a stronger “pull” or influence over the people’s religious belief or practice? Or could it be that man’s faith is just that weak and/or superficial? I prayed with all my heart for that day I was really so very sad. I felt that man’s faith had failed again for the temporary excitement the world brings.

The sadness grew even more when I learned that many of the so-called “faithful” had adjusted their Sunday mass for the Saturday concelebrated mass. Pacquiao, I thought, has the power to change Filipinos’ schedules! How ironic, when Manny knows how to use his faith in God to conquer the opponent and bring glory to God and country. The country, on the other hand, gives glory to Manny Pacquiao and leaves God and the Church alone and lonely.

The love for God that we always profess was tested once again and many failed.

But it is never to late to put God above anyone, ahead of anything, for God is eternal and everything else, temporal.

When it comes to faith, I believe that those who have their own ways and habits would never waiver and proceed regardless of circumstances and events. Those who are not bound by rituals in the practice of their faith, however, do have their own ways of professing and manifesting their beliefs, thus the difference. The point is — in local parlance: “Magpakatotoo ka lang, dahil sa pagiging totoo sa puso mo ay hindi ka nagkakasala.”


Greed for power

The national elections are fast approaching. Killing and destroying man for the sake of power is getting worse! It is faith that has sadly wavered. From Maguindanao to Manila, from urban to rural areas, greed for power rules man, and it is becoming more evident now than ever.

The temporary power afforded by politics, or indeed the power of any groupings, associations, or even corporate establishments and businesses, has made the world forget that being a leader is being of service to man and not to enslave and destroy them in the process.

For the love of power, many men forget that there is the real God, and yet they themselves want to lord over lands and people. They have forgotten that there is the real heaven because they have created hell on earth, to be lorded over by them.

These people are not serving man, but instead proclaim themselves as gods to rule over mankind. They have been totally deceived and blinded by the dizzying euphoria that greed and power bring. Slaying is just a job that needs to be done to maintain their hold over their people. They do not have God in their hearts, but uses the name of God to perpetrate their evil deeds.

For those who remain faithful and are true to their Godly hearts, don’t waver, do not be disheartened. If these people do not have human hearts, show them that you do. If they do not have love in their hearts but hate, show them the overflowing love and mercy that you possess. If they do not believe in God, show them that you do and believe in the power of God. If they created hell on earth, let us make it heaven for those who remain faithful.

Remember that faith is a continuous consciousness. It does not rest even for a millisecond, for the eternal reward will be there for the taking. Don’t be a hypocrite for it is the biggest deception a man can do against his God.

Put God into your life and real understanding will come to you. Enlightenment reveals the true meaning of faith in God.


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