What are you doing to contribute to a better future for the Philippines? - Daily Bible Reflections July 29,2014

Memorial of St. Martha

A BETTER PHILIPPINES

We wait for peace, to no avail; for a time of healing, but terror comes instead. – Jeremiah 14:19

It has been 28 years since the bloodless revolt took place in our country. We held in our hands the very things we had longed for — freedom and peace.

       Now, almost three decades later, what do we have? Can we honestly say we have peace in our land, that we have been healed of the wounds of the past?

       It’s sad that many of our leaders — and followers — have not learned from the lessons of the past. It’s a big challenge to our current president to try to rebuild a government with integrity and with the people’s interests at heart. Shadows of the past continue to haunt the corners of every government office. Old habits are hard to replace with value-laden ones.

       And so we continue to suffer as a people. We continue to live with corruption, with violence, with greed, with mockery in our institutions. The very things we long for are still in our hands. We can have peace and healing if we all start within ourselves. Only then can we bequeath a better country — a better life — to the future generations. With God’s grace, we can do it. Tess V. Atienza (svp_tvatienza@yahoo.com)

Reflection: What are you doing to contribute to a better future for the Philippines?

Lord, we lift up to You our country. Grant healing to our battered land.

St. Martha, pray for us.