MABUTING KRISTIYANO…MABUTING MAMAMAYAN

Ang isang mabuting anak ng diyos ay dapat ding maging mabuting mamamayan ng lipunang kanyang kinabibilangan. Sapagkat siya’y Diyos din ng kaayusan (God of order), minarapat ng Diyos na basbasan din ang mga aspetong political at panlipunan.

And while we believe that we belong to the universal governance of God, we still belong to organized societies being governed by some people among us.

Jesus, knowing that a trap was laid by the Pharisees when they raised the question in the gospel, "Marapat po bang magbayad ng buwis sa Caesar o Hindi?” His response reveals his profound wisdom. It was lose-lose situation. If he answers in the negative, the Pharisees would brand him as an enemy of the government, a radical. If he answers in the positive, it would appear that he was conceding to the power of human governance as opposed to the higher where he belongs.

Thus, the famous line, “Ibigay sa Caesar ang para ka Caesar. Ibigay sa Diyos ang para sa Diyos”.

One who professes that he is a good Christian but does not exercise good citizenship of his country by not paying tax, not following the law, and creating obstructions to justice cannot lay claim to being totally good. And vice versa. He who does his duties as a citizen religiously, pays taxes and obeys state laws but does not give to God the worship, love and faith that He so deserves cannot be considered a good Christian.

We live by society’s norms. Once a mother bickered bitterly when she was busy cleaning the house but her young daughter was just playing jackstones. She shouted at her child. "Ano ka ba"? Nakita mo nang hirap na hirap na kong maglinis ng bahay habang ikaw diyan ay palaro-laro lang ng jackstones! The kid answered, “Mas masagwa naman sigurong tingnan, Inay, kung ako ang maglinis ng bahay at kayo naman ang maglalaro ng jackstones.” Speaking of norms..

Thus, a good Christian happily serves his country and government by paying taxes and helping her alleviate her condition. Pay taxes honestly, we should. Because it is an equally noble and holy duty to contribute to the social order and human governance which is actually parallel to God’s and the Church’s governance of the faithful. No wonder then that church constantly reminds the faithful to take part in concertizing our social obligations like voting wisely and choosing the right and morally upright candidates; to give to the government what is due it (while expecting that taxes would really work for our benefit) to participate and take part in mass actions which seek reforms for the betterment of the quality of our lives, etc.

Jesus encourages us to become good citizens of the Church… and of the human order. Not one without the other.

Fr. Erick Y. Santos

Grace Park Cross October 20, 2002