This morning I attended the Interfaith Forum of Muslim Imams, Protestant Pastors and Catholic Priests at the Grand Mensing Hotel. This forum is one of the activities during the Mindanao Week of Peace.
I was asked to lead the opening prayer together with a Muslim Imam. The forum discussed the theme of this year's Mindanao Week of Peace - "Building Bridges of Peace with our Peace Officers."
Among the speakers were Rev. Dr. Mar Apilado (the senior Pastor of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines - Davao) and General Rene Badilla of the Easter Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
I am glad that I was able of meet the religious leaders from the various Religious Traditions and Faith-Communities in Davao and to engage in dialogue with the officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police. In working for peace we have to work together with them and develop lines of communication.
General Badilla assured the forum that the Armed Forces are willing to work together with the religious leaders in bringing about peace in Mindanao.
This was the text that resonate in our hearts today:
'They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again."
I hope next Mindanao Week of Peace, we can also engage in dialogue with the leaders of revolutionary movements and convince them to pursue the path of peace.
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1 comment:
Should the farmers of Sumilao hold on to their plowshares and pruning hooks when this government failed to give what is just to them?
Should the Church remain unhinged?
Can't the Church walk with the Sumilao farmers towards the throne of the queen in asking justice? If the powers that be refused to heed, what should the Church do?
Can't she join these farmers in moulding their flowshares and pruning hooks into swords and spears?
Of course, she will remain unhinged.
Inquirer's editorial reminds us: "If the nation is in a moral drift, it is in a large way because of the Church. If the social volcano explodes, it is because the Church has come unhinged."
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