Let us join the December 17 prayer rally

This is a beautiful Christmas tradition that can be started. Aside from the traditional Misa de Gallo that starts every 16th of December, we can all gather together, as a nation, for a yearly Christmas Prayer Rally.

We hope this year's December 17 Prayer Rally will be the first of such ecumenical, multisectoral prayer rallies. Each year's Prayer Rally can revolve on a meaningful theme for our nation and our people. Each year's prayer rally can remind all that no one else but God can save this country and our people.

This year, symbolically and appropriately, the prayer rally is, as described by Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, CBCP president, as a "call for the purification of reason, for the reawakening of the moral forces, for the just ordering of society." The same theme can be resonated in subsequent annual Prayer Rallies, until such time that reason is finally purified, moral forces finally reawakened, and the just ordering of both the Philippines and global society, a reality.

While Luneta will be the center of this year's December 17 Prayer Rally, all others who are unable to be there physically can join the rally by offering the same prayers wherever they are, however they can.

This year's first ever December Prayer Rally recalls a similar prayer rally done in February, 1986. Then, Filipinos of all religious denominations, ideological positions, gender and classes joined in prayer for the Lord to save the nation from further dictatorship. After 20 long years of political abuse, the Filipino people finally united in telling the abusive leadership, tama na, sobra na!

The similarities continue. It was Cardinal Sin's rallying call that urged people to amass in EDSA; this time around, the CBCP call for the prayer rally subsequently mobilized all other strong religious forces and other sectoral groups to gather in Luneta.

This year's December 17 Prayer Rally in Luneta is expected to be more sober and perhaps either more or less in number than the world-renowned February 1986 People's Power at EDSA. This year's focus, though, is still a continuation of the same 1986 theme that truly needs prayers for: a reformed, morally strong leadership within a more equitable, just society.

While the targeted leaders of the February 1986 People's Power and the 2006 December Prayer Rally may have changed from Marcos to GMA and her allies in Congress. While the targeted leaders of the February 1986 People's Power and the 2006 December Prayer Rally may have changed from Marcos to GMA and her allies in Congress, while it is a sad reality to note that from 1986 to 2006, this nation still awaits God's gift of sincere, morally strong leaders who will serve Him and our people within a just, equitable society, it is inspiring to note that there are still millions of Filipino coming from various ranks, religions, and sectors who have not given up on their prayer, vigilance, and advocacy for a better nation!

Just as it took 20 years for our people to unite and oust a dictator, this year marks the 20th year since that ouster. This time around, on Sunday, we will witness another massive Filipino celebration of hope and unity, through prayer. This time, we may not need to wait another 20 more years for our prayers to be heard. This time, our prayer may truly be answered, for finally we are putting all our trust and faith in God, rather than on fallible, irresponsible mere mortals.

If you are among those who still believe in hope, who still believe that we can have a better country where love and care will truly reign, where trustworthy, selfless, and sincere governance and public service are possible, and where clean, honest elections will produce the much-awaited moral, God-fearing leaders who will lead us all towards a just ordering of this society under God, then, wherever you are, however you can, do please join the prayer rally this December 17th! No need to fear, God will protect those who believe in Him, those who seek and believe in truth, justice, and freedom!

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