PEACE cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding, said the famous American philosopher and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson.
As the year comes to a close, Filipinos should spend a short time to offer a solemn prayer for peace, a universal peace among all nations and especially in the fragile island of Mindanao, the place plagued with religious conflicts and land disputes; even insurgent attacks.
More than putting this part of the country at peace and its people in a state of perpetual quiet and restfulness, we pray that government pursuit will continue to this day with Islamic secessionists in finally addressing aspirations for a Bangsamoro homeland while taking into consideration the signing of a propitious peace pact that would give us lasting freedom from strife.
While we hope for this purpose in response to the many blood-spattered and gruesome incidents happening in the past year, we beg the Almighty for the blessing of true peace in our time, an appropriate prayer for this yearend—that we be delivered from the catastrophic, evil scourge of frequent conflicts taking place in Mindanao. There is no necessity of taking up arms for the defense of the homeland and the protection for the citizens even as there are values that are worth fighting for.
This Christmas Day, the Day of Peace, as promulgated by Pope Paul VI, let us reflect on the biblical message “Peace on earth, goodwill toward men.” May it resonate with more spirit in each and every one of us since it deals with a commemoration of the theme that is already announced when Christ was born ages ago: Pax Huminibus! (Peace to humanity)
As how Bishop Elenito Galido of Iligan City puts it, “What are badly needed for peace are conversion and reconciliation and healings! It is not enough to suspend war and conflicts, to impose truces and armistices, to define boundaries and relationships, to create sources of common interests; it is not enough to paralyze the possibility of radical strife through the terror of suffering and destruction. Progress must be made towards a Peace which is loved, free and just, founded on the reconciliation of hearts and healing of the spirit.”
The late Mother Teresa of Calcutta, famous humanitarian and advocate for the poor and helpless, said it best: “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”