NOW that we will be going through another
political
exercise of choosing our political leaders, we first of all have to go
to God, praying and begging that we be enlightened and that the whole
process be peaceful, beneficial and fruitful to all of us. This
national event is no joke. We have to try to be dead serious about it.
Of course, we have to reassure ourselves that since there
are no perfect candidates, no perfect electorate, and the whole
exercise, in spite of being designed to be effective, honest and fair,
will always have some loopholes when put into practice, God can always
make do with anything, even the worst scenario, and can derive some
good from evil. There’s always a fallback somewhere somehow.
That’s why we are still afloat in spite of all kinds of
crises through the years. We should never forget that God is in the
middle of this very contentious national exercise, and in his own ways
is intervening in it actively. Let’s hope that we can have the faith
to see God’s hand in our political life. We need to remind ourselves
that there’s nothing in our life where God is not concerned and
involved somehow.
Just the same, that sobering fact does not exempt us from
choosing the right leaders as best as we can. That’s why we, at least,
have to know what would make a good leader. We have to know what
criteria to use and how these criteria should be ranked according to
importance and indispensability.
Of course, we can have many ideas about this, but I would
say that the most important quality of a leader is that he should be a
man of God, a man after the heart of God. After all, everything good
here on earth, including leadership, has God as its source, pattern
and power.
When a leader is truly a man of God and not just faking
it, he will also have the political welfare of the people in his
heart. He will be concerned of both the temporal common good of the
people as well as the more important eternal common good. We should
try to avoid making these two levels of common good conflict with each
other.
A true leader will strive to be honest and competent in
his job, always dialoguing with the people to monitor their needs and
lead them according to his vision of good governance.
He understands perfectly well that his work is an organic
extension of God’s providence insofar as the political needs of the
people are concerned. And so he does not depend only on what is
practical and convenient for the people. He will try his best that
God’s laws for us be given priority and be made to inspire all the
policies he will pursue.
Christian believers should be actively involved in the
political life of the country. Of course, the laity are the ones
directly involved in politics, since politics will always be partisan
in character. The clergy can only play the inspiring role and should
be above partisan lines.
Thus, Christian believers who also are citizens and
therefore part of the electorate should know how to choose their
leaders well. They have to learn how to discern the true and the false
leaders, how to weigh the platforms, views and words of the
candidates.
Let’s remember what Christ said of false prophets. “Beware
of false prophets,” he said, “who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but
inwardly are ravening wolves.” (Mt 7,15) They can show great signs and
wonders, and as St. Paul said, “they deceive the hearts of the simple
by their good words and fair speeches.” (Rom 16,18)
Nowadays, many politicians have mastered the art of
rhetoric and of persuasive speech, and they can avail of tremendous
political and publicity machineries to make them attractive to the
electorate.
It would be good that each one considers his political
choices in his prayer, in front of God, and closely listening to his
conscience. Of course, he has to listen to all parties involved, but
he has to learn how to discern the spirit of each candidate, the signs
of the times, etc.
Since there will always some risks to be taken in these
exercises, one should try his best to choose candidates that he thinks
would serve best for the common good. He should try to rein in his
emotions and passions, and try his best to be as objective as
possible. For this, he may have to consult others.
exercise of choosing our political leaders, we first of all have to go
to God, praying and begging that we be enlightened and that the whole
process be peaceful, beneficial and fruitful to all of us. This
national event is no joke. We have to try to be dead serious about it.
Of course, we have to reassure ourselves that since there
are no perfect candidates, no perfect electorate, and the whole
exercise, in spite of being designed to be effective, honest and fair,
will always have some loopholes when put into practice, God can always
make do with anything, even the worst scenario, and can derive some
good from evil. There’s always a fallback somewhere somehow.
That’s why we are still afloat in spite of all kinds of
crises through the years. We should never forget that God is in the
middle of this very contentious national exercise, and in his own ways
is intervening in it actively. Let’s hope that we can have the faith
to see God’s hand in our political life. We need to remind ourselves
that there’s nothing in our life where God is not concerned and
involved somehow.
Just the same, that sobering fact does not exempt us from
choosing the right leaders as best as we can. That’s why we, at least,
have to know what would make a good leader. We have to know what
criteria to use and how these criteria should be ranked according to
importance and indispensability.
Of course, we can have many ideas about this, but I would
say that the most important quality of a leader is that he should be a
man of God, a man after the heart of God. After all, everything good
here on earth, including leadership, has God as its source, pattern
and power.
When a leader is truly a man of God and not just faking
it, he will also have the political welfare of the people in his
heart. He will be concerned of both the temporal common good of the
people as well as the more important eternal common good. We should
try to avoid making these two levels of common good conflict with each
other.
A true leader will strive to be honest and competent in
his job, always dialoguing with the people to monitor their needs and
lead them according to his vision of good governance.
He understands perfectly well that his work is an organic
extension of God’s providence insofar as the political needs of the
people are concerned. And so he does not depend only on what is
practical and convenient for the people. He will try his best that
God’s laws for us be given priority and be made to inspire all the
policies he will pursue.
Christian believers should be actively involved in the
political life of the country. Of course, the laity are the ones
directly involved in politics, since politics will always be partisan
in character. The clergy can only play the inspiring role and should
be above partisan lines.
Thus, Christian believers who also are citizens and
therefore part of the electorate should know how to choose their
leaders well. They have to learn how to discern the true and the false
leaders, how to weigh the platforms, views and words of the
candidates.
Let’s remember what Christ said of false prophets. “Beware
of false prophets,” he said, “who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but
inwardly are ravening wolves.” (Mt 7,15) They can show great signs and
wonders, and as St. Paul said, “they deceive the hearts of the simple
by their good words and fair speeches.” (Rom 16,18)
Nowadays, many politicians have mastered the art of
rhetoric and of persuasive speech, and they can avail of tremendous
political and publicity machineries to make them attractive to the
electorate.
It would be good that each one considers his political
choices in his prayer, in front of God, and closely listening to his
conscience. Of course, he has to listen to all parties involved, but
he has to learn how to discern the spirit of each candidate, the signs
of the times, etc.
Since there will always some risks to be taken in these
exercises, one should try his best to choose candidates that he thinks
would serve best for the common good. He should try to rein in his
emotions and passions, and try his best to be as objective as
possible. For this, he may have to consult others.
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