Fac ut Vivas

Sooner or later, I had to do this, write a blog touching some points on religion.

i got a gift from a friend yesterday — a cross necklace from Jerusalem. He tells me it’s "for a job well done". He was referring to my work on the SPP page — the one that’s annoying everyone these days. Besides churning out two to five emails per manuscript (there are about 201), there are numerous issues that surface eveytime it encounters aberrant user behavior. but i will dwell on this spp thing another time. For now, let me talk about the cross.

As I wound it around my neck, I thought: The cross — had it been bigger, i.e. the size of a man, it would have been best way to describe everyone in these trying times.

I forgot to mention that I wasn’t a catholic, so I didn’t believe the trinket had a bit of power. But it was special, since it was given to me in goodwill. Besides, it was from Jerusalem, a place i won’t be visiting soon.

Once upon a time, I was told that it wasn’t the object itself that made it potent but the faith of the one wielding it that makes the difference. If his faith was big enough that he helieves the object can do anything, it’ll be quite powerful. He would have an aura surrounding him, an aura of holiness and blessedness: God’s presence surrounds him.

A question often asked of me is whether or not I believe in God. My opinions on many things seem to indicate that I am an atheist or at least liberated (as in the case of most people living in the Non-Catholic parts of the world). In fact I do and am quite serious in my belief about His Majesty and Power,  Love and Infinite Wisdom. I acknowledge that He alone is the Ultimate Superlative in everything morality considers to be good. It is quite awesome how despite being the Complete Authority on Morality, He is the same Being who is subject to the same moral standard, and Excels in it.

But I’m not the regular Christian guy — the kind that goes to church, sings in choirs, evangelizes, and/or otherwise preaches the ‘message’.

I feel there is something awfully wrong in the whole idea of faith spawning a plethora of religions.

The trappings of religion are too many that more often than not, they become the focal point of a person’s spirituality. Many times it becomes the metric by which people are judged: The Heavens open up to one group and are closed to others and vice versa. Ideas that are probably alien to God’s all-encompassing love.

Then, there was Jesus.

In His time, He was a most remarkable man.

The law of the land was harsh and justice was dealt with violently. Death was mercy granted to sinners — some innocent by today’s legal standards. Hate and grievances spawned an endless cycle of revenge and retribution.

Then He taught people to forgive one another. Suddenly there was a chance that the meaningless cycles of bloodshed would stop. He reminded them that they are capable of great things. He talked about God and His Love which covers the entire world. He showed what the Kingdom of God would be like if they gave each other a chance.

Then He died, much to our dismay. His work had just began in the land of Jerusalem. But for many his short life had been enough to spread the message.

Suddenly Great things were possible. Some who understood his message lived their lives peacefully,  content in God’s graces, blessings, and love. They were at peace with the world and their neighbors.

But there were others who became rabble-rousers. Unfortunately history is written by their kind and many more wars  have been fought ever since. Some were fought over petty reasons, whereas acts of forgiveness might have stemmed the violence that spilled over.

Jesus knew the way. His faith was bigger than the problems of the world — and God walked with Him.