THE ONLY HOPE FOR THE PHILIPPINES
by Father James Reuter, S.J.

By her own admission, GMA (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) rightfully assessed that over the last decades; our republic has become one of the weakest, steadily left behind by its more progressive neighbors. Forty years ago, we were only second to Japan in economic stature, and way ahead of Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Today, at our present growth rate, it will take us 30 years to get to where Thailand is.

1. A population of 160 Million;
2. Of those, 70 to 90 million (equivalent to our current population) will live below the poverty line;
3. Our national debt is estimated to be at US$200B (compared to US$28B when Marcos fled, and US$53B today);
4. We will be competing, not against Thailand or even Vietnam, but against Bangladesh;
5. We will be the most corrupt nation in Asia , if not in the world (we're already ranked 11th most corrupt nation by Transparency International).

The signs are clear: Our nation is headed towards an irreversible path of economic decline and moral decadence. It is not for lack of effort.

We've seen many men and women of integrity in and out of government, NGOs, church groups & people's organization devote themselves to the task of nation-building, often times against insurmountable odds.

But not even two people's revolutions, bloodless as they may be, have made a dent in reversing this trend. At best, we have moved one step forward, but three steps backward.

We need a force far greater than our collective efforts, as a people, can ever hope to muster. It is time to move the battle to the spiritual realm. It's time to claim GOD's promise of healing of the land for His people. It's time to gather GOD's people on its knees to pray for the economic recovery and moral reformation of our nation.

Is prayer really the answer? Before you dismiss this as just another rambling of a religious fanatic, I'd like you to consider some lessons we can glean from history. England 's ascendancy to world power was preceded by the Reformation, a spiritual revival fueled by intense prayers.

The early American settlers built the foundation that would make it the most powerful nation today - a strong faith in GOD and a disciplined prayer life. Throughout its history, and especially at its major turning points, waves of revival and prayer movement swept across the land.

In recent times, we see Korea as a nation experiencing revival and in the process producing the largest Christian church in the world today, led by Rev. Paul Yongi Cho. No wonder it has emerged as a strong nation when other economies around it are faltering.

Even from a purely secular viewpoint, it makes a lot of sense. For here there is genuine humbling & seeking of GOD through prayer, moral reformation necessarily follows. And this, in turn, will lead to general prosperity.

YES, we believe prayer can make a difference. It's our only hope. Today, we launch this email brigade, to inform Filipinos from all over the world to pray, as a people, for the economic recovery and moral reformation of our nation. We do not ask for much. We only ask for five minutes of your time in a day, to forward this email to your close friends and relatives.

This is the kind of unity which can make a big difference. Of course, if you feel strongly, as I do, about the power of prayer, you can be more involved by starting your own prayer group or prayer center.

We have tried people power twice; in both cases, it fell short. Maybe it's time to try prayer power. GOD never fails. Is there hope? YES! We can rely on God's promise, but we have to do our part. If we humble ourselves and pray as a people, GOD will heal our and. By GOD's grace, we may yet see a better future for our children.

“If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land.”(2 Chronicles 7: 14).

If you care for your children and grandchildren, PLEASE pass this on...

Kung Nais ng Diyos, Huwag Matakot

Lk. 5: 1-11 "Huwag kang matakot. Mula ngayo’y mamamalakaya ka ng mga tao."

Ano ang iyong reaksiyon kung si Hesus mismo ang magpapagawa sa iyo ng isang gawain? Hindi ba’t kaagad kang kikilos ng walang atubili?

Ito marahil ang naranasan ni Simon Pedro at ng kanyang mga kasama nang sila’y nangingisda buong gabi at walang mahuli sa Lawa ng Genesaret. Nagmamasid noon si Hesus sa kanilang ginagawa nang lumapit Siya sakay ng isang bangka at sabihing “Pumalaot kayo at ihulog ang mga lambat upang manghuli.” Para ko na ring narinig sina Simon Pedro na nagbubulungan ng “Eh ano naman kaya ang alam ni Hesus sa pangingisda kung Siya’y isang karpintero?” Ngunit sa pagkakataong ito sinunod nila si Hesus. At hindi naman sila binigo Nito nang halos masira ang lambat nila sa dami ng isda na kanilang nahuli.

Iyan ang malaking pagkakaiba kung si Hesus mismo ang nag-utos, Sunod agad tayo ng walang dalawang isip.

Sa ating buhay, lalo na sa pagsisilbi sa Diyos, importanteng kumonsulta muna sa Kanya bago gumawa ng mga bagay-bagay. Alam naman nating perpekto ang mga plano ng Diyos. Lahat ng Kanyang pangako, tinutupad Niya.

Kaya naman sa mga pagkakataong tayo’y nanghihina sa serbisyo sa Panginoon, dapat tandaan ang Kanyang mga salita, aral, utos at pangako. Hindi dapat matakot lalo na sa pagharap ng mga pagsubok sa buhay. Kung tayo’y nalilito at nangingimi sa ating pagsunod, tandaan lamang ang sinabi Niyang huwag matakot. Mas malaki ang Diyos kesa sa ating mga pagsubok. Siya ang kapitan ng ating buhay. Bakit tayo matatakot?

Kung masasabi nating nakilala na natin ng lubos ang Diyos, at tayo’y may personal na relasyon na sa Kanya, nararapat lang na ibahagi natin ito sa iba.

Iba’t-ibang talento ang mga ibinahagi sa atin ng Panginoon. Bawa’t isa sa atin ay may kanya-kanyang paraan kung paano maibabahagi ang Mabuting Balita ng Kaligtasan sa iba. Ito ang misyon natin. Hindi natin ito maikakaila.

Pagnilayan:
Anu-ano ang dahilan ng aking agam-agam o takot na maibahagi ko sa iba ang aking pananampalataya?

Dasal:
Panginoon, nawa’y mapalakas Niyo po ang aking pananampalataya nang maibahagi ko ang Inyong Mabuting Balita ng kaligtasan at buhay na walang hanggan. Amen.