we can pierce the darkness 2

7/27/2019 We Can Pierce the Darkness 2

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July 18 - 31, 2011 Vol. 15 No. 15Php 20.00

Pro Bono

We can pierce the darknessAtty. Jo ImbongIT was St. Thomas who said thatthere is no race of men so blessedwhose god approaches so near,as our God approaches us.So near does God go to eachperson, He extends his hand lovinglybut we do not grasp back.

There are those who call themselvesFilipino Free Thinkers,Catholics 4 RH, or CatholicsFor a Free Choice. The latter, ofcourse, is composed of strident

advocates and practicing believersof you-know-what.Did God perhaps bypass themin his heart-to-heart visits? DidGod cross out their names in hiseternal phone book? Does Goddrop by only upon rosary-bearing,Amen-rejoicing Charismatics?Does God un-friend thosewhose ranks un-welcomed hisBishops at the gates of the Senateon that darkness-turned glorious

July the 13th?

Or is it the case that thosemitre-clad youths and theirfire-breathing comrades have


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drawn themselves towardsstrange grounds set apart by ametaphysical abyss that separatescreature from Creator,nothingness from Infinity, andhumanity from God?

That is not even the ultimatedeliberate separation from Godsfriendship. There is a second, anethical abyss that expands theseparation from the God thatreaches out. For if the first distanceis not bridged, a wider remotenesssettles. It is loneliness.It is the ultimate psychologicalabyss because it renders the soulunable to turn and look over theshoulder in a furtive glance atGod with eyes betraying a faintcry for help.

Of the protesters at the maingate, can we say, They knownot what they do? That doesnot cover all the facts. As we arewitnessing it in our day, thereis a love of evil as such and itis real. Such defiance of truthhas reached an intensity unparalleledin Philippine Churchhistory.But it is a fact that the Churchand its Princesour dear Bishopsare being systematically

persecuted. If you must know,the belligerent lobby refers tothem in their reports to CEDAWmonitoring bodies as the greatestobstacle to reproductivehealth in the Philippines.And while there is to be foundgreat holiness in the Churchand in the flock, there is alsoto be found a loosening of holdon Gods fatherly hand. Thereis a very forceful tsunami thatbreaks our hold upon the Tree ofthe Cross, making it seemingly

harder and harder for the multitudeto believe and love with allits strength. Thus, the abyss.In the days before 13 July, itwas as if the Christian world wasweighed down by a dense pall ofblack vapor, as black as the BlackBudget in the PCSO funds thatSenator Miriam Santiago spokeof that morning. It was so palpable,it was in the air as camerasrolled and shutters flashed uponour beloved Cardinal and Bishops

as they humbly trudged thesteps to Session Hall. The FourthSorrowful Mystery: Jesus Carries


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His Cross.Today, as the pall lifts, thereis only one way to scuttle itonce and for all. To be able todo this, we must use the powerof Light.

Who shall wield it? It willbeus.For in the normal way of Godsprovidence, it will be throughthe vision and love and effort ofeach of us who are His instruments.

We can pierce thedarkness

Atty. Jo Imbong

Pro BonoIT was St. Thomas who said thatthere is no race of men so blessedwhose god approaches so near,as our God approaches us.So near does God go to eachperson, He extends his hand lovinglybut we do not grasp back.

There are those who call themselvesFilipino Free Thinkers,Catholics 4 RH, or Catholics

For a Free Choice. The latter, ofcourse, is composed of stridentadvocates and practicing believersof you-know-what.Did God perhaps bypass themin his heart-to-heart visits? DidGod cross out their names in hiseternal phone book? Does Goddrop by only upon rosary-bearing,Amen-rejoicing Charismatics?Does God un-friend thosewhose ranks un-welcomed hisBishops at the gates of the Senate

on that darkness-turned gloriousJuly the 13th?Or is it the case that thosemitre-clad youths and theirfire-breathing comrades havedrawn themselves towardsstrange grounds set apart by ametaphysical abyss that separatescreature from Creator,nothingness from Infinity, andhumanity from God?

That is not even the ultimatedeliberate separation from Godsfriendship. There is a second, an

ethical abyss that expands theseparation from the God that


4/5

reaches out. For if the first distanceis not bridged, a wider remotenesssettles. It is loneliness.It is the ultimate psychologicalabyss because it renders the soulunable to turn and look over the

shoulder in a furtive glance atGod with eyes betraying a faintcry for help.Of the protesters at the maingate, can we say, They knownot what they do? That doesnot cover all the facts. As we arewitnessing it in our day, thereis a love of evil as such and itis real. Such defiance of truthhas reached an intensity unparalleledin Philippine Churchhistory.But it is a fact that the Church

and its Princesour dear Bishopsare being systematicallypersecuted. If you must know,the belligerent lobby refers tothem in their reports to CEDAWmonitoring bodies as the greatestobstacle to reproductivehealth in the Philippines.And while there is to be foundgreat holiness in the Churchand in the flock, there is alsoto be found a loosening of holdon Gods fatherly hand. There

is a very forceful tsunami thatbreaks our hold upon the Tree ofthe Cross, making it seeminglyharder and harder for the multitudeto believe and love with allits strength. Thus, the abyss.In the days before 13 July, itwas as if the Christian world wasweighed down by a dense pall ofblack vapor, as black as the BlackBudget in the PCSO funds thatSenator Miriam Santiago spokeof that morning. It was so palpable,it was in the air as cameras

rolled and shutters flashed uponour beloved Cardinal and Bishopsas they humbly trudged thesteps to Session Hall. The FourthSorrowful Mystery: Jesus CarriesHis Cross.

Today, as the pall lifts, thereis only one way to scuttle itonce and for all. To be able todo this, we must use the powerof Light.Who shall wield it? It willbeus.

For in the normal way of Godsprovidence, it will be throughthe vision and love and effort of


5/5

each of us who are His instruments.

we can pierce the darkness 2

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