"Keeping the Faith by Fighting Back"

"Keeping the Faith by Fighting Back"

(Or "Thoughts after Lent in a time of Pandemic-driven crisis
and the faithful's will to fight back 

Last Ash Wednesday, people from all walks of life arrived to commemorate that solemn occasion marking the start of lent. And from the gospel text of St. Matthew it stated that the Lord instructed everyone the need for abstinence, charity, and prayer. It is also on that occasion wherein everyone marks a time to reflect, thinking about something that's beyond this earthly presence. 

However, this 2020 things have changed. With the pandemic brought by COVID19 affected the order the way churches ought to sprinkle ashes in heads instead of the traditional marking at their foreheads; what more that the same crowded parishes end empty with  the folk depending on social media or television to watch the order of the mass as Eucharistic liturgies being suspended until the celebration of Easter. 

But despite this a concerned folk tries to keep their faith deeper in mind and heart in a time concerns drive them to think harder. For sure not all even have a job as businesses close, nor having the privilege to "work at home" the way some companies provided to its employees in this time of crisis; and governments as much as possible been trying their best all to "ensure the welfare of the people by any means" from financial assistances to stimulus packages for companies.

However, in the Philippines, this pandemic-droven crisis seems to be aggravate existing tensions. That after listening to the president threaten most of the time especially to the desperate and the hungry, would say that as Christians, care and compassion is what needed most.

For in a time of pandemic-driven socioeconomic peril and its downturn in public morale, to see an order that's feigning mercy and compassion, what more of venting threat is simply more like struggling to maintain its foothold as people becoming concerned of its negative effect. For sure ad recent statements shown in television, print, and in social media sites these has made the folk worry, angry, or even both as the order fails to provide sound solutions such as those expressed by the folk themselves. That channeling the intelligence budget to health and social services particularly the need for PPEs and necessary equipment been disregarded by the order who tries to appease the people with press releases if  not outrightly accuse them of "disturbing the peace".

And that accusation has been coupled with violent reprisals such as the incident in Sitio San Roque in Quezon City. The folks affected by this pandemic-driven crisis had to go out to demand for inmediate relief such as food, and it takes extreme conditions such hunger to brave the threat of COVID19. 

It is not a manifestation of indiscipline nor being uncooperatice to the authorities, but the action taken by the folks is their desperate measure to call out the government that the people are hungry, but instead of listening to their woes, truncheons and prison bars as its immediate response. With this kind of incident would say that it showethba painful reminder that the poor folk always suffer in every crisis. Apologists of the order may treat them with scorn two and fro, but again, these folks have been long struggling even before the pandemic.

But despite these series of events, the fact that the Lord continues to provide hope and showeth concern in every prayer and action, that everyone pursues further seeking truth from facts, of solidarity amongst individuals and communities, and urging others to engage  creates something that the order can't do to its subjects. In this would somehow also makes the folk fight back with their faith and a view in their backs against threats so as to assert further a more just society in the spirit of the beatitudes.