Election Triduum Part 1

Since 1st May, I have been praying the Rosary as a novena for the national and local elections in the Philippines. As I am on the last three days of my novena, let me share with you the reflections I have made on some of the mysteries of the Rosary. Today, being a Friday, let’s focus on Sorrowful Mysteries particularly on the Lord’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.

It was perhaps Jesus’ longest night. After His Last Supper with His apostles, He prayed in a garden. He was already starting to feel the pain, loneliness, and death that were forthcoming. He was in angst that He sweated in blood! His famous words were “Father, if it is possible, let this cup of suffering pass me by. But not as I will it, but as you will it.”

Our country has been in agony for many, many years already. Nothing much has changed. Promises made in the previous elections were broken. Leaders have caused innumerable scandals. Justice has been delayed or worse denied. Poverty is all over the place.

Voters are in some sort of agony too in choosing who to vote. There have been many candidates vying for the same position. Still others feel apathetic towards this political exercise to the point of not even participating at all. And still some are being bribed or threatened not to vote.

Like Jesus, let us not lose heart in what we ought to do for our country. With 100% trust in His Father, He accepted that ‘cup of suffering’ (i.e. His passion and death on the cross) so as to save us all. With 100% trust in the same Father, let us also drink from that ‘cup of suffering’ called election by casting our vote according to our conscience, by actively safeguarding it, and by not being beholden to the 3 Gs – guns, goons, and gold. If we do so, we would have joined Christ in saving our country from the maladies it is now experiencing.

It is not an easy task, but mind you: God is a faithful God who will be with us even when the forces of evil seem to take hold of everything in our country.

As we recall the Sorrowful Mysteries today, let our prayer be:

Father, we know it may not be too easy to do Your will. Full of trust in You, we will carry on. In Jesus’ name. Amen.