Root of all evil

As the saying goes: Money is the root of all evil. Who in his right mind would doubt that this is what lies behind the ruthless persecution against Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.!

In Christian terms, there are two opposing camps or "standards". The standard of Christ, and that of the Antichrist, with their respective strategies.

You cannot miss the strategies of the Antichrist forces: worldly riches, power, and pride. Worldly here means an inordinate, insatiable attachment to money, power, and pride. With this three-way trap, one can led on to all other forms of Godless deeds.

Some days ago, one courageous journalist traced the impeachment signatories ultimately to the one, powerful Godfather of them all – the man behind the scenes and head of their political party. We all know who he is. The writer had a documented chronology of all the reasons why Danding Cojuangco wants Davide out of the Supreme Court – from the scandalous coco levy funds case to the alleged illegal purchase of 16 coconut oil mills.

Did this partisan political group in Congress have the common good of our country at heart? You tell me. So the overwhelming response of our people all over the country in support of Davide is God’s way of assuring us that He will not allow evil to triumph over good. "Vox populi, vox Dei." The voice of the people is the voice of God.

I thank the Lord that the ministry groups I am directly involved with have all come out in support of Justice Davide: the Marriage Encounter Foundation of the Philippines; the Center for Family Ministries, and the Christian Parenting for Peace and Justice Foundation. They are deeply concerned for all Filipino families and the future of their children as well as our country. What kind of role-models in political life do their children see and hear about? What kind of lawmakers do we have?

This brings us to the standard of Christ, whose strategies are the exact opposite of the Antichrist. This world’s riches and power per se are God’s gifts to us all – His people. For what and for whom they are used is the crux of the matter. Christ’s strategies? He was the fearless advocate of social justice and compassion, especially toward the poor. His integrity and God-centeredness were unquestionable. He was politically involved, but not in self-serving partisan politics. And because of all this, he was resisted, maligned, and persecuted by the forces of the Antichrist. But he remained steadfast to the very end.

Chief Justice Davide is a disciple of Christ. Political, but non-partisan. Davide’s integrity, morality, commitment to social justice, and dedication to the nation are evident to all who are not politically biased.

This is the kind of political leader that we, our children and grandchildren need today and for the future. Let us search, support, and vote for more leaders like this. Never again should we vote for the congressmen who signed that impeachment paper and did not retract.

During the Fourth World Meeting of Families held in Manila last Jan. 22-24, 2003, Chief Justice Davide was one of the few Christian lay leaders chosen to deliver a major talk to that international assembly. In his paper entitled "The Family and the Struggle for Justice", Davide precisely focused on the dignity and justice that is due to every human person, especially the poor – starting from the family to the rest of the world. In conclusion he said: "When there is justice in the family, there is justice in the nation, there is justice in the world."

This is precisely what our second reading for today’s liturgy teaches us: "Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person, for the temple of God, which you are, is holy." (1 Cor.3:16-17).