Blessed crisis

A major crisis – be it personal, family, or institutional – is commonly labeled as bad luck, or a form of punishment for sin, or a somewhat unfair treatment from the Lord. "Inspite of my best efforts, my business collapsed. What bad luck!" "He was suddenly struck down with a serious illness. Must be a punishment for his immoral life." "Diyos ko. Wala naman akong ginawang masama. Bakit nangyari sa akin ito? How unfair!"

But the deeper meaning of crisis is the other side of all that. The very word "crisis" comes from the Greek word which means "turning point". In other words, a crisis is not a curse. It is precisely an OPPORTUNITY for moving forward rather than backward. It is an opportunity from the providence of the all-loving God for the three G’s: one’s Growth, Greatness, and Godliness as a person.

How movingly portrayed this is in today’s Parable of the Prodigal Son ( ). First, on the part of the younger son. He pressured his father to give him the share of his inheritance, left home and led a dissolute life in some foreign country. Until he met the biggest crisis of his life. At the height of his poverty, hunger, and aloneness, he responded rather than reacted to his crisis by repenting for his past, humbly going home to his father and asked for the latter’s forgiveness. From sinfulness to repentance. His crisis was the very opportunity for personal conversion and growth as a person.

On the part of the father, that very crisis became an opportunity to manifest his greatness of heart and his Godliness as a father. His unconditional love and forgiveness in action.

God’s story is our very own. At the height of our fiscal crisis as a nation, we have started to respond to the opportunity for the three G’s: our growth, greatness, and Godliness as a people.

Through a growing number of our leaders, the different sectors of Philippine society are leading us with faith and courage to respond to this crisis. From the leaders of our government — executive, legislative, and judicial — all the way to our business and industrial sectors, our many different churches and religious groups, NGO’s and others. It is truly a challenging opportunity to break the barriers of factionalism as we join hands in leading our country through this crisis. Another turning-point in the history of our country. Yes, crisis means turning-point.

Much effort, time, and process will be demanded from all of us, as we embrace the God-inspired lifestyle of S.S.S. Stewardship, Simplicity, and Sharing.

This is the lifestyle that will definitely bring our nation to growth, greatness, and Godliness.

Stewardship. We are not owners but caretakers of God’s creation. Thus, we are to develop and maximize the fruits and resources of creation according to God’s design — which is the good and well-being of all. A more equitable distribution of God’s resources is at the heart of the stewardship principle.

Simplicity. No rationalizations, please. It is self-evident that when our lifestyle is more simple, then there will be more of our time, talents, and treasures that we can and should share with those who have less. Let us not fall victims to a Godless, global materialism and consumerism.

Sharing. Stewardship leads to simplicity, and simplicity leads to sharing. This was the lifestyle of Jesus — the lifestyle that will lead our nation to God and His design for us all. In whatever way we can, to the best of our God-given abilities and resources, let us support the ten-point program of our President.

Growth, Greatness, and Godliness through Stewardship, Simplicity, and Sharing.