SPY WEDNESDAY; Prayerful Pacquiao

SPY WEDNESDAY; Prayerful Pacquiao

By:  Fr. Bel R. San Luis, SVD

2008, Manila Bulletin (Holy Wednesday)

Once a painter wanted to draw a picture of innocence.  He found Rupert, a little child and painted him kneeling beside his mother at prayer.  The painter valued the painting of young Rupert above all else.  He hung it prominently in his study, labeling it “Innocence.”

Years later when the artist was old, he had often thought of painting a counterpart – the picture of guilt.

One day he purposely visited a neighboring prison.  On the damp floor of the cell lay a man shackled with iron.  His body was horribly wasted, his eyes hollow, years of a life of vices reflected on his face.  The man was perfect subject for his painting on guilt.  When he was through, he asked the condemned man his name.

His answer: “Rupert!”

The painter was aghast.  It was the same person who inspired him to be his model for innocence many years ago.

The fate of Rupert may be compared to one of Jesus, trusted apostles, Judas Iscariot.  No doubt Jesus chose him in the beginning for his good qualities.  It’s been recorded that he was more educated and gifted than his peers who were simple, rugged fishermen, to which group he was assigned as treasurer.

But like Rupert, he degenerated into a vicious thief and traitor.

Holy Wednesday commemorates the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot, thus the traditional name, “Spy Wednesday.”

The purpose of highlighting that tragic incident is to provoke us into examining our behavior as Christians.  For isn’t it a fact, at times, we’re not much different from Judas?

Don’t we betray Christ in the way we live?

He is a “Judas”:

One who is a recipient of a special favor from a benefactor, but slanders and malign him or her.

For Filipinos, walang utang na loob (ingratitude), like ungrateful children towards their parents, is “unforgivable”.

A government official who accepts bribe money to approve a dubious deal, or a judge who favors a litigant in exchange for a “cash-unduan” is a modern day Judas.

This is a very timely occasion to confront the truth about ourselves.

-ooo000ooo-

PRAYER POWER.  Despite his human frailties, Manny Pacquiao, never forgets to pray unabashedly in all his fights.  Notice how he came out as usual wearing the rosary in his March 16 bout wherein he wrested the world super featherweight crown.

Well, his opponent was wearing it too, which must have been hard for Someone up there whom to favor.  But with so many Pinoys here and abroad praying, Marquez must have been “out-prayed.”  Obviously, there were other factors in the victory, like training, stamina and strategy.  Notice, too, how Manny knelt down before the start of the match and mumbled a prayer; ten made the sign of the cross.  After winning the bloody match, he knelt down again at his corner and said a prayer of thanks.  The success of Manny could also be attributed to the agonizing prayer of his mother Dionicia, who did not watch the bout but kept on praying in front of their family altar.  As the old saying goes, “God help those who help themselves.”