by Nestor Ravilas
Whenever I read this part of nativity story (Matt. 1:18-24), I could not help but to sympathize with the plight of Joseph. Not that I claim Joseph suffered and sacrificed more than what Mary had given up just to realize the divine plan. Only that his credulity in some sense flays down the most endeared image of macho Filipino male. I am wondering up to now what moves Joseph to acquiesce to such abject role in that divine drama; whether for the love of Mary or for God, I am not really sure. Since the drama was already done and we are all aware how the story has ended, Joseph was redeemed into heroism or sainthood and the role he played is now recognized as an act of indomitable faith. Prior to that, of course, he was nothing but an idiot easy to fall to such dimwitted narrative of the divine visiting the earth. And there is nothing more enduring, more torturing, than the part of yourself mocking you, saying, “You’re shit, you’re so gullible to believe that Mary is carrying the savior in her womb!” I pity him for that!
They are re-posting every fake news available in the net. Call their attention on such impropriety and they would just shrug off their shoulders, then, tomorrow they would parade again another set of fake news from malicious sources. They love joining the throng in maligning those perceived enemies of the state. They are always ready to assist in everything they can in disseminating malicious rumors. And worst, they applaud and encourage the brutal killing of suspected addicts as if addiction is the most irreversible and irredeemable pathology this world could have, unmindful, on the other hand, of true and injurious criminals who are roaming free and unscathed simply because they are friends to the power. And just recently, they are up to provide biblical support on the reactivation of capital punishment, a legalized form of killing. These are professing Christians, known as leaders of both big and small religious congregations, Bible believing people. And that is the twist of this show!
We live in a confusing time. People are getting killed. It is rising to about six thousand from the time killing season was officially inaugurated. And there is no sign of letting-up as the deadline given by the president is now approaching. There are about 30 dead people every night. And none of them was able to prove her innocence or guilt in the law of court. And in all these, we have in the congress the effort to revive the death penalty. That is where the farce comes in. What the hell is the purpose of the resuscitation of the death penalty when you can kill suspects in an instant, and hence circumventing the rigor of court battle and of subsequent imprisonment once the suspect is found guilty? The revival does not make any sense other than the two, the revival of death penalty and the spate of killings, are all about spilling of blood in which, seemingly, this government finds fetish with.
Burn After Reading 