Just Keep Quiet and Pray

Just Keep Quiet and Pray

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

If you cannot part with your coins as your neighbor does who reaches out to others with gladness in their heart…just keep quiet and for them…pray.

 

If you cannot speak for the sake of others, though you know you can, but still refuse, while others do with boldness in their heart…jut keep quiet and for them…pray.

 

If you cannot afford to open your heart to others so that you may feel for them with compassion, as others do without hesitance…just keep quiet and for them…pray.

 

If you cannot stand for Jesus’ words, and Whose legacy is a bunch of virtues that can be lived so that they may prosper while emulated and shared…just keep quiet and for them…pray.

 

Don’t hold others back as they move on while waving the standard of charity, for if you don’t want to join the throng…better step aside…just keep quiet and for them…pray.

 

Don’t utter discouragements in an effort to douse the enthusiasm of others who want to brighten up the gloomy world with love…better step aside…just keep quiet and for them…pray.

 

Don’t taunt the courage of others in treading on strange paths that lead to where the neglected are huddled, for if you cannot do it…better step aside…just keep quiet and for them…pray.

 

Don’ jeer at the sympathy that others show to the less privileged because for you, it’s none of their business…better step aside…just keep quiet and for them…pray.

 

You can help others who want to make the world a pleasant place to live in…just keep quiet and for them…pray.

 

May the Lord bless you a million fold…this for you, I pray!

 

Amen!

Ang Pagpapalaganap ng Pananalig o Pananampalataya

Ang Pagpapalaganap ng Pananalig o Pananampalataya

(tungkol ito sa “chain prayer” at iba pa)

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Maraming paraan ang maaaring gamitin sa pagpalaganap ng pananalig o pananamapalataya sa Diyos. Subali’t magandang gawin ito sa paraang walang karahasan o pamimilit.

 

Ang isang halimbawa ay ang ginagawa ng ISIS sa Gitnang Silangan na gumagamit ng dahas upang maisakatuparan ang hangad nilang mapalawak ang pamumuno ng “Islamic Caliphate”. Inabuso din nila ang tunay na kahulugan ng “jihad” na ginamit nilang pangbalatkayo sa pulitikal nilang layunin.

 

Ang iba naman ay gumagamit ng “literal” na kahulugan ng mga sinasabi sa Bibliya upang ipakita na malawak na ang narating sa kababasa ng nasabing libro. Hindi man lang nila naisip na ang Bibliya ay may iba’t-ibang bersiyon na ginagamit ng iba’t- iba ring relihiyon. Ang matindi pa nga ay ang sinadyang pagkaltas ng ibang bahagi ng nasabing libro upang umangkop sa layunin ng mga namumuno ng relihiyon.

 

May mga taong sumasampa sa mga bus at jeep o di kaya ay nagtitiyagang magsalita sa matataong lugar tulad ng palengke. Ang iba naman ay naghahanap ng makikinig sa kanila kaya umiistambay sa mga mall at liwasan o park tulad ng Luneta. Karamihan sa kanila ay nag-resign sa trabaho upang bigyan ng halaga ang “nararamdaman” daw nilang utos sa kanila ng Diyos, kaya ang resulta….pagtigil ng pag-aaral ng mga anak, at kagutuman ng pamilya. Ang mga nasa palengke naman ay matiyaga din, at kadalasan ay grupo sila – habang ang isa ay nagsasalita o kumakanta sa harap ng mikropono, ang mga kasama naman niya ay nakakalat hanggang sa paligid ng palengke na hindi na abot ng loud speaker, lumalapit sa mga tao habang may hawak na lagayan ng “donation”.

 

Noong wala pa ang computer, ang tawag sa daluyan ng teknolohiyang hatid ng radyo at telebisyon ay “air wave”. Ngayon naman ay may mas malawak na daluyang kung tawagin ay “cyberspace”. Kung noon ay may “air time” na binabayan ang mga maperang pastor na kung tawagin naman ay “block timer” upang magpalaganap ng mga salita ng Diyos ayon sa kanilang paniniwala, ngayon ang napakasimpleng gagawin lang ng isang tao ay magbukas ng facebook account, at presto!…mayroon na siyang venue, o outlet, o labasan ng kanyang mga saloobin.

 

Ang “facebook” naman ay para lang sana sa mga larawan ng mga magkaibigan upang maipakita nila ang  aktwal nilang hitsura o mga ginagawa lalo na ng pamilya, na maaring samahan ng maikling bagbati. Subalit dahil nakita ang lawak ng inaabot ng facebook, naisip ng mga may malakas na pananampalataya na magpalaganap ng kanilang paniniwala sa pamamagitan ng paglagay sa “frame” ng mga dasal na ginamit sa “chain” o tanikala upang marami ang marating na kaibigan. Ang nakasama ay ang “babala” o warning na kung hindi ipagpapatuloy ng nakatanggap ay may mangyayaring sakuna o kamalasan sa kanyang buhay. Ang mga may mahinang pundasyon ng pananalig ay natataranta at natatakot dahil kung minsan ang natatanggap nila ay may warning na  “dapat ay sa 50 na kaibigan” ipaabot. Kaya ang mga kawawang nakatanggap na ang kaibigan sa facebook ay wala pa ngang 10 ay  hindi na magkandaugaga sa paghanap ng iba pang tao kahit hindi gaanong kilala upang umabot lang 50 ang kanyang padadalhan! Ang iba ay hindi makatulog dahil dapat daw ay ikalat ang dasal sa loob ng 24 na oras!

 

Sa isang banda, hindi dapat ipinipilit ang pagyakap sa isang paniniwala na mula’t sapul ay ayaw ng isang tao. Hindi dapat idaan sa “chain prayer” ang pagpapalaganap ng pananalig sa Diyos, kung mismong ang nagpadala ay hindi rin gumagawa ng dapat gawin ayon sa dasal na ikinakalat niya. Paano kung ang pinadalhan ay bistado ang ugaling masama ng nagpadala? Alalahaning hindi nakokontrol ang ganitong uri ng pamamahagi o sharing at hindi maiwasang magkakabistuhan ng ugaling “plastic”. Ang mangyayari niyan, baka libakin pa ang nagpada ng “chain prayer”, ng mga pinadalhan niya dahil sa kanyang pagkukunwari. Yan ang dapat pag-ingatan sa paggamit ng “social media” tulad ng facebook.

 

At, ang pinakamahalaga….dapat alalahaning, mas malakas ang internet sa “itaas”….iba ang gusto ni Lord na mangyari, ang ipakita sa gawa at kilos ang mga Salita Niya, hindi ipakalat sa facebook na may kasamang pananakot….dahil marami nang taong pagod sa mismong pananakot ng ibang relihiyon na ang gagawa ng masama ay “mahuhulog sa nag-aapoy na impyerno”!

 

Priests Should Not Assume That Catholics are Stupid

Priests Should Not Assume That Catholics are Stupid

Translated from Tagalog by Perla Buhay
Some priests think that just because they have studied the holy book and the history of the Catholic Church during their seclusion in the seminary, only they have knowledge about these things.  As a result of this erroneous thinking, many priests act as if they were chosen by God and blessed with said knowledge.

 

To face the truth, many people have separated from the Roman Catholic Church after coming to know the “shame” which the Vatican has kept under wraps, especially the despicable sins of some modern priests.  Such priests exhibit their ignorance if they do not realize the power of technology in helping Cathoics unearth information through the internet.

 

In all likelihood, there are many lay Catholics who know more about the history of the Roman Catholic Church than said priests, and therefore the latter should not act all-knowing.  In this day and age, it would be well for priests to be truthful and humble, emulating the ways of Jesus, so that they may at least show that the wrongs committed by certain priests will not be repeated. And what do these priests do instead?  They inflict more shame on the Church, to the extent that the new Pope begins to sound like a broken record, repeatedly reminding the clergy of their duties and responsibilities.  Must they be called names to attract their attention?

 

A priest who runs a parish must show professionalism in the performance of his work; a parish is a community that needs proper and intelligent management.  He must not invoke the idea that the Church is a spiritual realm, just to be able to enforce his authority and impose his “leadership.”  In so doing, the priest is harking back to the times of Padre Damaso of the Spanish era our history.  A priest with a tarnished reputation has no credibility to lead a flock of Catholics; instead of being able to institute reforms, he will do more harm because his reputation will contaminate the community’s image.

 

The Holy Father has the small religious congregations to thank, because they save the day and redeem the Church’s good name. The good works performed by religious groups overshadow the questionable acts done by some parish priests. Undesirable priests can be relocated, but religious groups based in their communities stay on, giving valuable support to replacement clergy. Unfortunately, new priests are not immune to arrogance; within a short time of their arrival, they begin to smell like rotten fish. Modern versions of Padre Damaso!

 

 

(Ms. Perla Buhay is a retired Computer Documentation Specialist, a well-travelled foodie blogger and a spoken language interpreter. She was born and raised in Manila, attended Nazareth (high) School, holds BA and BSE degrees (majors, English and History) from the College of the Holy Spirit in Mendiola, Manila.  After a brief stint as high school teacher with the Division of City Schools, she joined the Bureau of Animal Industry, where she served as Chief Public Information Officer under the late Dr. Salvador H. Escudero III, Director.  Then she won a Rotary International scholarship to pursue graduate education at Oklahoma State University’s School of Journalism and Broadcasting.  Perla resides in California and maintains a small farm in Nueva Ecija.  Check out her foodie blog at AtoZfoodnames.wordpress.com.)

Here’s the original essay in Tagalog, translated by Ms. Buhay into English:

 

Hindi Dapat Isipin ng ibang mga Pari na Tanga

Ang Lahat ng Mga Katoliko

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Akala ng ibang pari, dahil nakapag-aral sila ng mga salita ng Diyos at ng kasaysayan ng simbahang Katoliko sa loob ng kung ilang taon habang nakakulong sa seminaryo, ay sila lang ang may kaalaman sa mga ganitong bagay kaya  kung umasta sila ay aakalain mong sila lang talaga ang mga pinagpala ng Diyos dahil sa kanilang kaalaman.

 

Ang katotohanan ay marami ang tumitiwalag sa simbahang Romano Katoliko dahil naliwanagan sila pagkatapos malaman ang mga kahihiyang pilit itinatago ng Vatican, lalo na ang mga makabagong nakakadiring kasalanan ng ibang pari. Tanga ang mga paring ito kung hindi nila mauunawaan ang tulong na naibibigay ng makabagong teknolohiya sa mga Katolikong nakakakuha ng impormasyon sa internet.

 

Baka mas marami pang alam ang ibang ordinaryong Katoliko tungkol sa kasaysayan ng simbahang Romano Katoliko na hindi pa alam ng karamihan sa mga pari, kaya hindi sila dapat magyabang. Ang dapat gawin sana ng mga kaparian sa panahong ito ay magpakatotoo, magpakabait, magpakumbaba, maging tulad ni Hesus sa ugali, upang kahit papaano ay maipakita nila na ang pagkakamaling nangyari sa nakaraang panahon ay hindi na mauulit pa sa kasalukuyan. Pero ano ang kanilang ginagawa? Mas higit pang kahihiyan ang ibinibigay sa simbahang Romano Katoliko kaya ang bagong santo papa ay parang sirang plaka sa paulit-ulit nitong pagpapaalala sa kanilang mga responsibilidad at obligasyon. Kulang na lang ay murahin sila!

 

Kung may “pinapatakbo” o mina-manage na parukya ang isang pari, dapat ay magpakita ito ng propesyonalismo dahil ang isang parukya ay isang komunidad na nangangailangan din ng “proper and intelligent management”. Hindi dapat gamiting dahilan ang pagka-ispiritwal ng simbahan upang siya ay makapagdikta o magpasunod ng kanyang kagustuhan dahil gusto lang niyang maipakita na siya ang “lider”. Kung ganyan ang ugali niya, aba eh, bumabalik siya sa panahon ni Padre Damaso noong panahon ng Kastila! Wala siyang karapatang mamuno ng isang lokal na simbahang Katoliko ngayon na sirang-sira na ang reputasyon, dahil sa halip na nakakatulong siya upang makapagbago man lang kahit kapiranggot, lalo pa niyang binabahiran ng putik ang imahe nito.

 

Dapat pasalamatan ng santo papa ang mga maliliit na religious organizations sa lahat ng komunidad na siyang sumasalo at nagtatakip sa pagkakamali ng kanilang parish priest. Dahil maganda ang ipinapakita ng mga religious organizations hindi masyadong nahahalata ang mga kamalasaduhang ginagawa ng ibang parish priest. Ang mga parish priests ay napapalitan pagkalipas ng kung ilang taon, subalit ang mga religious organizations ay hindi dahil taal silang taga-komunidad kaya kung tutuusin sila ang nagbibigay ng agapay sa mga bagong naitatalagang parish priest, subali’t dahil sa kayabangan ng iba sa mga ito, kalimitan, ilang buwan pa lang pagkatapos silang maitalaga ay umaalingasaw na agad ang mabantot nilang ugali!….sila ang mga makabagong Padre Damaso!

 

Fr. Joseph Borreros and his Journey through Life

Fr. Joseph Borreros and his Journey through Life

…from a struggling student assistant

to an Orthodox priest, and educator with Divine guidance

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

As a youth, he was among the wave of adventurous migrants from Panay Island, particularly, Dao, Capiz who came to Cotabato. He found his place in the Tacurong Pilot School as a Grade Six pupil in 1961. His family lived in the market of the town which that time was just weaned as a barrio of Buluan. He continued his studies at the Magsaysay Memorial Colleges of the same town. In college, he took up a pre-Law course at the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City but failed to pursue it when he succumbed to a sickness.

 

He went back to Tacurong and took up Bachelor of Arts in Notre Dame of Tacurong College. To support his studies, he worked as a janitor and later as Library Assistant in the same school. That was during the directorship of Fr. Robert Sullivan, OMI, a kind Irish priest. After his graduation, he taught at the Notre Dame of Lagao in General Santos, South Cotabato for three years.

 

In 1973 he got interned at the Marist Novitiate in Tamontaka, Cotabato City, and professed temporarily in 1975 during which he was assigned as a Marist Brother at the Notre Dame of Marbel Boys’ Department (Marbel is now known as Koronadal City). From Marbel, he was sent back to the Notre Dame of Lagao.

 

In 1976, he left the religious congregation of Marist Brothers, but was taken in by Bishop Reginald Artiss, CP, the bishop of Koronadal, to assist in the establishment of the Christian Formation Center which was located at the back of the cathedral. For two years, he went around the parishes and diocese covered by the authority of Bishop Artiss in training members of the Kriska Alagad, Lay Cooperatos, as well as, in establishing Basic Christian Communities.

 

As Bishop Artiss perceived his potential as a cleric, he was sent to the Regional Major Seminary of Mindanao in Catalunan Grande, Davao City. Fortunately, due to his extensive and intensive pastoral formation background, he was privileged to skip subjects related to it. After four years of theological studies at the said seminary, he was ordained as a priest on April 1, 1982 by Bishop Guttierez, DD, of Koronadal. His first assignment was the parish of Sta. Cruz , formerly politically under South Cotabato, but today, that of Sarangani Province.

 

In 1985, he was a “floating” priest, awaiting appointment as Superintendent of Diocesan schools and temporarily established his residency at Our Lady of Parish in Polomolok, South Cotabato with the late Fr. Godofredo Maghanoy. The following year, he was finally designated to the mentioned position which he held for three years.

 

In 1989, he went on a study leave to take up Masters of Science in Educational Management at the De La Salle University in Manila which he finished in 1991. Two years later, he was about to finish his Doctorate in Religious Education pending the completion of his dissertation under the guidance of Bro. Andrew Gonzalez, FSC, but failed to do so due to an important and life-turning decision….to have a family and develop a Non-Government Organization. Driven by his new-found advocacy in life, he worked as Coordinator of the Community Volunteers’ Program under the Council of People’s Development, a Pastoral NGO of Bishop Labayen for three years in Infanta, Quezon.

 

From 1995 to 2004, he was with the Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA) as a Monitoring Officer of the projects in governance. While with the said NGO, he studied Orthodoxy theology on his own, a week after which, he was consecrated by His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew at the Orthodox Cathedral located at Sucat, Paraἧaque, Metro Manila.

 

He was inspired to bring along his former 61 parishioners in Maricaban, a depressed area in Pasay City when he presented himself and his family to Fr. Philemon Castro, parish priest of the Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral in Paraἧaque. Like him, he found his former flock to be also journeying spiritually. After several months of catechism, they were accepted to the Orthodox Church. They were further accepted by the former Metropolitan Nikitas Lulias of Hongkong and Southeast Asia.  A little later, Fr. Joseph was ordained to the Minor Orders as “Reader”, for which he started to render regular duty at the Cathedral on Sundays which did not affect his NGO-related activities.

 

He was asked to leave his NGO responsibilities in 2004, in exchange for which he was sent to Greece to serve as a full worker in the Ministry – live with the monks of the Monastery of St. Nicholas of Barson in Tripoli, southern Greece. Afterwards he was sent back to the Philippines to do catechesis in different mission areas, particularly, in Laguna, Sorsogon and Masbate.

 

In 2006, he was ordained to the Orthodox priesthood and assigned under the Omophorion of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople which is presently headed by His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew, Successor to the Apostolic Throne of St. Andre, the first-called apostle.

 

In 2009, he did mission work in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. Until today, he carries the same responsibilities but the area expanded to include SOCSKSARGEN area (South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos), as well as, Davao del Sur.

 

To date, he was able to firmly establish three communities, such as: Holy Resurrection Orthodox Community in Lake Sebu; St. Isidore of Chios Orthodox Community in San Guillermo, Hagonoy, Davao del Sur; and Apostles St. Andrew and James Orthodox Community in Kisulan, Kiblawan, Davao del Sur.

 

Aside from taking care of the Sacramental life of the faithful, his mission work also includes values formation of students. Two particular schools that are benefiting from this are the Marvelous College of Technology, Inc. in Koronadal City, and Pag-asa Wisdom Institute in Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat where he also serves as Principal. According to Fr. Joseph, the two institutions are community-centered, privately-owned, mission-oriented and most especially, cater to the less in life but with a strong desire to overcome their socio-economic barriers.

 

Fr. Joseph and his family live at the Theotokos Orthodox Mission Center in Surallah, and which also serves as the nucleus of his mission works. His life is typically austere as shown by the structure that accommodates his flock during worship days. The same character also defines the rest of the “chapels” throughout the areas that he covers. But since there are other things that his Mission needs, he unabashedly appeals to the “mission-minded souls to help in their capacity, sustain, strengthen, so that it will grow with flourish for the glory of God”.

 

Fr. Joseph, as an ordained Orthodox priest has been given the name, “Panharios”.

 

For those who are interested to reach out to Fr. Joseph, his address is at:

Theotokos Orthodox Mission Center

120 Dagohoy St., Zone 5

Surallah, South Cotabato

Philippines

 

Email: theotokos_mission@haoo.com

Cellphone: 09165433001

 

Ang Pamilyang Pilipino: Misyonaryong Alagad ng Eyukarista

Ang Pamilyang Pilipino: Misyonaryong Alagad ng Eyukarista

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Isang matatag na hibla ng pananampalatayang Kristiyano…ito ang pamilyang Pilipino. At, ang panata ay marubdob na pagpapalaganap ng Eyukarista, simbolo ni Hesus na nagligtas sa sangkatauhan mula sa mga minanang kasalanan. Ang malalim na pagkaugat ng pananampalataya sa bawat tahanan, payak man o nakakariwasa ay bunga ng halos limampung siglong paghubog ng mga Kastilang prayle sa kanilang mga ninuno. May sangkot mang karahasan, inunawa na lang dahil sa layuning maka-Diyos, at dahil na rin sa paniniwala na ang mga nabulagang prayle ang nagkamali noon at hindi ang simbahan.

 

Hindi lang Pilipinas ang sinasaklaw ng taimtim na pananampalataya dahil kahit sa ibayong dagat, saan man nakakarating ang mga anak, ina, o ama ng isang Pilipinong pamilya bilang dumadayong manggagawa, kipkip pa rin nila ang Bibliyang pilit pinalulusot sa mga paliparan at daungan. Sa mga bansang iba ang umiiral na pananampalataya, nagagawa pa rin nilang magtipon-tipon nang palihim upang ipadama sa isa’t isa na buo ang katatagan nila bilang mga Kristiyano na hindi nagsasawa sa mga salita ni Hesus. Marami nang naparusahan, subalit hindi hadlang ang kanilang kamatayan upang ang pagsamba nila sa Diyos ay mapigilan.

 

Ang Eyukarista na maituturing na isang pagtitipon, kung saan ay nasa gitna si Hesus… ay lalong tumatatag at lumalawak pa ang nilalambungan ng biyaya nito dahil sa pambihirang katangian ng pamilyang Pilipino. Marami nang hadlang ang kanilang nalampasan sa pag-usad ng panahon na lalo pang nagpalakas ng kanilang pananampalataya dahil sa paniniwalang walang makakatalo sa kapangyarihan ng Diyos na siyang naglalang ng lahat sa ibabaw ng mundo. Hindi sila mahirap akayin dahil sa paniniwala na kung tungo sa kabutihan ang landas na tatahakin lalo pa at ang gabay ay si Hesus, walang pasubaling sila ay susunod.

 

Hindi maiwasan kung may ibang pamilyang napapalihis ng daan dahil sa umiiral na makabagong panahon, subali’t may mga pangyayari at pagkakataon na nagpapakita ng pagbabago…at ito ang hangad sa kanila ng ibang pamilya na sa kanila ay maigting na kumakapit upang hindi tuluyang maligaw. Ang damayan ay bahagi na ng kultura ng mga Pilipino na nagpapatatag ng bawat tahanan, at isa rin itong katangian na ginagamit sa paggabay sa kanilang kapwa upang mapanatili ang katatagan ng pananampalataya. Nagsisilbi din itong lakas na ginagamit ng bawa’t pamilyang Pilipino upang maakay pabalik sa tamang landas ang mga naligaw.

 

Mapalad ako dahil ako ay bahagi ng isang pamilyang Pilipino na may matatag na pananampalataya sa Panginoon at bahagi ng pagtitipong Eyukarista… na ang kahalagahan ay pilit kong pinamamahagi sa abot ng aking makakaya. Hindi man nakakariwasa sa anumang materyal na bagay, hitik naman ang pagkatao ko ng mga bagay na buong puso kong inaalay sa Kanya. Ang puso ko ay pinatitibok ng taos kong pananampalataya, at ang aking payak na karunungan ay umaapaw sa paniniwala sa Kanyang kapangyarihan.

 

Nagpapasalamat ako dahil itinuring ako ni Hesus bilang kapatid niya…at sa pagturing na yan ay kasama ang aking pamilya. Sumasama ang aking kalooban kapag nakakarinig ako ng panlalait kay Hesus ng mga hindi nakakaunawa sa Kanya. Halos magutay ang aking puso kapag ako ay nakakakita ng mga sinasadyang paglihis mula sa itinuro niyang tamang daan. Tinatanong ko ang aking sarili kung bakit sa kabila ng paghirap at kamatayan Niya sa burol ng Golgota, ay nagagawa pa rin ng ibang siya ay itakwil.

 

Ganoon pa man,  dahil sa nakagisnan ko nang katatagan bilang katangiang bahagi ng pamilyang Pilipino, naniniwala akong sa abot ng makakaya ko… namin….at nating lahat, matatamo din ang matagal nang inaasam na kapayapaan at pagkakaisa na siyang layunin ng Banal na Eyukarista – simbolo ng pagmamahal ni Hesus sa sangkatauhan at buong mundo!

 

The Nail

The Nail
By Apolinario Villalobos

It is just a simple piece of iron with a head, and its other end is terrifyingly pointed. It comes in different sizes. Some come in the size of a match stick, some in the size of a barbecue stick, with the biggest that come as big as a thumb. Before, the nail was just made from crudely cast iron, but later, copper and brass were used so it won’t get deteriorated by rust, and today, even stainless steel is used so that it can puncture delicate materials such as thin plywood.

Our ancestors before were contented in securing their homes with fibrous tall grass and vines due to the lightness of materials that they used branches, twigs and grass. But today, due to the use of heavy materials, the nail is very important in putting together the roof, wall, floor and stairs, to come up with a house. Obviously, the nail is among the primary components in providing strength to the whole structure.

Nowadays, the nail is unfortunately being used as one of the components in making improvised bombs, and which extortionists and terrorists use in sowing dread throughout the world. In the Philippines, it is also being used as arrowhead for the “Indian pana” (Indian arrow) which hoodlums in Tondo use against their rival gangs. Still another use of the nail, though unbelievably, is in witchcraft. It is purportedly planted in the guts of victims, who claim to painfully and bloodily eliminate them through bowel movement.

The nail is part of Jesus Christ’s suffering on the cross which Christians believe as His ultimate act in saving mankind from sin. He was nailed on the cross. The nail caused Him pain. The Christian church may have just inadvertently failed to mention the nail every time the saving act of Christ on the cross is mentioned. Without the nail, would His suffering for mankind been completed on the cross? If the cross that He carried is mankind’s sin, the nail is its arrogance, the pain from which penetrated even the last sinew of His muscle!