One nation under God

Okay, so it’s a somewhat strange title in these cynical and disappointed times. But, thankfully, it’s true.

Yesterday morning, I took one of my best friends from Paris to breakfast at home, then brought him back to his Makati hotel – he’s leaving today for France. Being in the vicinity, I thought about going to Mass there. It occurred to me that Sunday Mass might be scheduled in the nearby "Glorietta" Mall – you remember, right next to Oakwood. And, indeed, there was a crowd inside there, waiting for the service to start.

Indeed, it’s become a custom in our shopping mall society for the faithful to hear Mass in our malls and shopping centers – which is where the people congregate. In SM Megamall, for instance, there’s even an all-day, everyday chapel for meditation and prayer tucked away on the topmost, fifth level.

Perhaps I’m close to excommunication as a frequent critic of the humbug and meddling of our churchmen and clerics in politics and other matters which don’t concern them, but what heartens me constantly, renews my confidence, is that we Filipinos remain a nation of simple faith.

We believe in the power, mercy, and omnipotence of Almighty God, and in Jesus and Mary.

In the mall yesterday, it was inspiring to see that the underpinnings of our Christian faith are as strong as ever, despite pain, suffering, despair, and loss, and the stupidity of those who "decide" our political destiny and misgovern our daily lives.

Yesterday, the priest’s homily reminded us, was the third Sunday of Easter and the Gospel of the day recounted how the Risen Jesus revealed Himself once again to his disciples in the Sea of Tiberias, which is better known to the Sea of Galilee.

I’ve been to that "sea", rather the "lake" of Galilee several times, on various expeditions to cover the turmoil in the Middle East (once during the Black September War of 1970, fresh from witnessing a terrible tank battle in which the old British-made Centurions of the Jordanian Arab Legion clobbered the more modern Syrian tanks supplied by the Soviet Union). I sneaked back from the Irbid Peninsula with the lights of Damascus blinking bleakly behind me – while the shaken Syrian military pulled the wreckage of their destroyed T-29 tanks from the battlefield – and went through Israel’s adjacent Golan Heights.

From my high perspective, I spotted, shining in the dark far below the outlines of the Lake of Galilee – it looked so small, not the kind of "sea" in which fishermen’s boats were tossed about by sudden storms or gales, and on whose surface Jesus once walked, while Simon-Peter sank for lack of faith.

However, the Bible story magnifies everything in memory and our hearts – and, truly, the "Sea" of Galilee is magnificent. From eye-level, on the ground of Tiberias, you cannot see the farther shore.

Yes, that 1970 experience gave me something of an inkling of how we tiny creatures appear to God’s eye – which is, of course, a presumption – for nobody can imagine what is seen by the eternal eye of God.

What was significant about yesterday’s tale, gleaned from John (Jn 21:1-19) is that Jesus, appearing for the third time after His death, asked Simon-Peter: "Simon, son of John, do you love me…?" Three times he asked the same question, to which Simon-Peter responded, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you…"

Finally, he admonishes Peter: "Feed my lambs."

Three times had Simon-Peter denied him (before the cock crowed). Three times, Jesus asked him to reiterate his love – after Resurrection. He forgave Peter, just as He forgives us.

The New and Old Testaments are a reminder to us that there is nothing new under the sun. Those who walk through those pages underwent the same trials, betrayals, and were as treacherous or faithful to one another as people are today.

Our prayerful nation endures for all our tribulations because our people still have faith.

* * *

The usual kibitzers from the FPJ camp are badmouthing any "unity" talks between Ronnie Poe and LDP candidate Senator Ping Lacson with such vehemence that it’s already clear that Opposition unity won’t be achieved, and that an FPJ-Lacson meeting might not even take place.

The ASO Gang feels that FPJ doesn’t need Lacson at all and will breeze through to the Presidency. If that’s its opinion, and Panday buys that superstar-complex idea, then so be it. Why, Makati Mayor Jojo Binay is already proclaiming victory.

GMA, naturally, is ecstatic.

Pride goeth before a fall. That’s what we were taught in Grade School. (No need to finish High School to learn that adage.)

* * *

Drunk on politics as we are at this stage, we tend to overlook what’s happening abroad – in fields of endea-vor or combat that will ultimately affect our own lives.

One almost unnoticed wire service story that touched me deeply was a report that former American professional football star Pat Tillman, "who gave up a $3.6 million sports contract to join the US military’s elite special forces" had been killed in Afghanistan last Friday in an intense firefight near Khose in southeastern Afghanistan.

His Army Ranger unit had been tracking Taliban guerrillas and had engaged in a pitched battle with a band of them in which the 27-year old athlete, Tillman, was killed. What’s notable is that Tillman had quit his National Football League career in May 2002, eight months after the 9/11 terrorist attack on New York’s Twin Towers and the Pentagon, to enlist, along with his brother Kevin, in the Army because he wanted to serve his country in its hour of need.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound defense back who played four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, declined a $3.6-million renewal of contract with the Cardinals and exchanged fame and his successful athletic career for an $18,000-a-year job in the Rangers, and a dangerous mission assignment. (There are 17,500 US troops still fighting in Afghanistan.)

What’s admirable is that Tillman refused all interviews, and did not want to make publicity capital out of what he did. He quietly went overseas, without fanfare, to perform his army duty.

This is the kind of men (and women) who make Ame-rica, for all her rights and wrongs, great. Most of the men and women the US sent to Iraq don’t know what they’re doing there – believe me, I’ve covered a few of their wars – but they go because their country sends them. When all is said and done, America’s strength is based on such sacrifice. And in its motto, embossed on even its currency, "In God we trust".

We, Filipinos, too, have such men and women. They are unheralded, for they seek no publicity or thanks. Among our OFWs and our countrymen, big or small, we have millions who live out their "little lives", trusting in God, doing their best – the bedrock of our nation. Heroes and heroine all, without the trumpets and press releases.

* * *

It was – and remains always – true love.

Our friend, Henri de la Haye Jousselin, came to Manila to bring home to her country, her family and friends the ashes of his wife, Marietta Enriquez-de la Haye Jousselin, who was better known to friends here (by her former marriage) as Marietta Guerrero.

As I’ve already written, Marietta was very dear to my wife and myself from our many years of association and friendship, long before she went away to live, happily, in Paris.

Henri, naturally, did not bring all of Marietta’s ashes back to Manila. Half of them are in their bedroom in Paris, "where we were so happy together".

What profoundly affected Henri is the way Marietta’s grown-up children – Rosanna, Luisillo and Lorenzo – thanked him in Church for having given their Mom so much happiness. What a wonderful attitude on the part of her kids!

In the final farewell, Henri – who returns to Paris this afternoon – said movingly in church, in a message addressed to Marietta – and which I believe should be shared with all our readers:

"If I had only known I’d never hear your voice again, I’d memorize each thing you ever said.

"And on those lonely nights I could think of thee once more…

"And keep your words alive inside my head. If I had only known I’d never hear your voice again.

"You were the treasure of my heart.

"You were the one who always stood beside me.

"So unaware, I foolishly believed that you would always be there. But then there came a day when I closed my eyes… and you slipped away.

"If I had only known it was the last night by your side, I’d pray a miracle would stop the dawn.

"And when you smiled at me, I would look into your eyes. And make sure you know my love for you goes on and on.

"If I had only known, if I had only known – the love I would have shown if I had only known."