On bended knees

The call of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines for a National Day of Prayer and Public Repentance is as timely as it can get.

Considering the series of devastating typhoons, billions of pesos stolen by corrupt politicians and government officials through the flood control ghost projects and last week’s Bogo, Cebu earthquake, we all better go on bended knees and pray!

I support the call of the CBCP and any other religious or church group calling for prayers because our national situation feels like being caught between a rock and a hard place. On one end we have the calamities and on the other we have a growing anger and frustration with all the investigations.

Many are worried that people will either give up on legal process and turn to violence, or people will just run out of steam and give up on the Philippines.

Last week, I suggested to friends that we do a silent prayer walk interspersed with praise and worships songs similar to what God instructed Joshua and the Israelites to do around the walls of Jericho. (Joshua 6:1-5)

In summary, the Jericho march tells how God showed up, declared that he had delivered Jericho to Joshua and the Israelites.

For their part, the people had to march around Jericho once every day for six days.

On the seventh day, they were to circle around the walls of Jericho seven times and on the seventh time, the priests were to blow the trumpets while the army and the men shouted out loud! Then the walls fell, the Israelites attacked and destroyed the city.

Most people would find the account “fantastic” while cynics could say it is absurd. You might even say we are not at war or attacking enemy territory. To that I quote St. Paul’s words in Ephesians 6 verse 12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against authorities, against the powers of the dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

“Struggle” means to fight, to break free against something or someone pinning us down over a period of time. It could be our mindset, eco-political transactional relationships, personal corruption or outright occult practices or inclination to omission rather than confrontation.

For the longest time, Filipinos have fought back with walk-outs, position papers, declarations, noise barrage, molotov and rocks and protest marches. But we never seem to get out of the vicious cycle.

I don’t devalue the risk, effort and sacrifice people make to express their indignation and rage. What I am suggesting is that we might get better results if we also exerted as much effort in prayer power as we do in “people power.”

Historically speaking, corruption, politics and abuse of power are forces that Filipinos have been overwhelmed with. It reminds me of King Jehoshapat and the people of Judah who were under attack by an overwhelming force of Moabites and Ammonites. (2 Chronicles 20)

Their chances of survival where slim or none, but instead of surrender, the king called for a fast in Judah and prayers for God to save them. All the people from every town responded.

In response, God sent Jahaziel who said: “Listen King Jehoshapat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s’.”

“You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you.” (2 Chronicles 20:15 & 17)

Go figure. In Jericho they marched, silently prayed and blew trumpets. In Judah, they prayed, fasted, took up their positions in faith and watched as God annihilated their would-be invaders.

Perhaps God intentionally uses absurd or illogical methods, not for fun, but to make a point, that for him nothing is impossible, that “we” did not solve the problem, God did.

Filipinos are very prayerful people. Many Catholics will soon be attending the Misa de Gallo or Simbang Gabi. Others pray before meals, novenas, the rosary. Christians do annual prayer and fasting during a family medical crisis or during New Year. Pinoy netizens even ask for prayers for other nations in crisis.

Why is it that we go on bended knees during our personal crisis but not “consistently” for our national crisis and tragedy? Inconsistent prayers will not move long-term struggles.

This brings me to part two of the CBCP invitation: public repentance!

Many people ask, “Why doesn’t God answer my prayers?” In the case of the Philippines, it is because we have relied on kanya-kanya, tapang, even entitlement, but never publicly said to God: “Forgive us Lord.”

In closing, I leave you with this encouragement from Psalms 37:7-11:

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath.

“Do not fret – it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them you will not find them, they will not be found.

“But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.”