Lord, quo vadis, Philippines?
Quo vadis means "whither goest thou?" or "where are you going?" This Latin phrase is said to date back to the time when St. Peter, while fleeing likely crucifixion at the hands of the government in Rome, encounters a risen Christ and asked: "Quo vadis?" Jesus replies: "Romam vado iterum crucifigi" (I am going to Rome to be crucified again). This reply is said to have emboldened Peter to "continue with his ministry and return to Rome where he was eventually crucified upside down."
Quo vadis had also been noted in the Bible, notably in John 13:36 where Peter asked Jesus: "Lord, where are you going?" And Jesus answered: "Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward."
We ask this same question of the Lord today, as the Supreme Court votes by a slim margin of 8-6 to oust Chief Justice Sereno.
"Lord, quo vadis, Philippines --where is the Philippines going?"
Outside the SC and before the unconstitutional decision, there was the white group, those in defense of the law and the Constitution and the red group, those in defense of those in power or those they want to be in power. The white group lifted their prayers to God, for God to show his might and topple the formidable wall of injustice and abuse of power. The red group rooted for their mortal gods and their version of truth and justice to reign.
The red group and their masters must be celebrating now in arrogant victory --shades of the screaming crowd that succeeded in having Jesus crucified! At this moment, it looks like the gods of the reds triumphed.
John 16:1-2 timely reminds us: "I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God."
"A little while you will not see me and again, a little while and you will see me. Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy!" (John 16:19-20)
"You are now in anguish. But I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice and no one will take away your joy away from you. In this world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world." (John 16:22,33).
"...one of you asks me, where are you going? And because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. It is better for you that I go for if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation…The Spirit of truth will guide you to all truth and will glorify me." (John 16-5-8, 13-14).
We had a beholden SC during the time of the dictator but God delivered us from the dictator!
"We went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.( Psalm 66:12).
Let Psalm 27:13-14 be our reminder: "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage."
When we are at our weakest, let us not try just to be strong.
"Be still and know that I am God."(Psalm 46:10).
Let us wait in faith and glorify God when he comes to redeem us!
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