Something Worth Revealing

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay are those who gain riches by unjust means. When their lives are half gone, their riches will desert them, and in the end they will prove to be fools. Jeremiah 17:9-11 (NIV)

We were asking the professor to have a "make-up" class for Christian Ethics so that we would not meet on Monday, October 30 (because a class of 6 seemed-to-be-older-than-their-professor students unofficially declared that from October 30 to November 4 should be apt for a semestral break - which we don't have). So we met this morning at 8 am - while the rest of the population is in their beds, being lazy on a Saturday morning.

It was supposed to be routine class with topics and so on. Christian Ethics is supposed to be boring because of those metaphysical philosophies one is familiar with these subject matters. Yet, this is quite a different day indeed because of some simple questions thrown by Atty. William Uy, the professor-in-question. Browsing through the syllabus of the course, he asked, "What is a good life for you?" and "What do you do with the freedom that you have?"

These questions seemed innocent enough, but the class seemed to confessed their secret lives in relation to the freedom they have to have that good life - like the one whose son is incarcerated, and another who had an affair with his wife's friend, while another one who married an older man who turned out to have 2 other wives (because he is a Muslim, and she has to deal with marital multiplicity). My mother had to confessed that she married an American who divorced her, after a short married life with that guy (yes, my mother is my classmate in law school).

Yet the most revealing of all seemed to come from someone who is not from the Christian Ethics class that morning. She completely bared herself of her true nature that I find repugnant. She reminded me of my grandmother (because my mother reminded me that she is like my grandmother). She felt slighted by an innocent remark, and she wanted vindication, lambasting the poor classmate on Facebook through the chat group. Unfortunately for the classmate who has to go to Luzon - who cannot defend herself, who cannot talk to her, or at least ask an apology immediately (thus the lambasting continues online). No wonder mama distanced herself from her even from the first instance they met.

Implied or expressed, many things are worth revealing, and these revelations form the very essence of ourselves as to our relationships with one another. Those who expressed their true selves should deserve praise for braving the exposure of their weaknesses, but self-serving "righteousness" deceives the person - implicating themselves to further ridicule. Perhaps it is time to examine ourselves and express something worth revealing.

I Realized I am Nothing

For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Ecclesiastes 1:18

Our lesson today in Civil Law is on how properties of the family (particularly of the spouses) are to be liquidated after the termination of marriage (that is - one died, or marriage was void, or was annulled). The Family Code of the Philippines, it seems did not miss any hole covered, and every stone turned to answer everything about property, marriage and family. It was an exciting discussion where properties go to the surviving spouse and the issues (children) when the marriage eventually is terminated.

Then came the topic of the "other" woman or "other" family having to share with the property of the erring (and very dead) spouse. Surprisingly, the code did not leave any space for such question to be unanswered - it covered that too. All chapters pertaining to Property Regimes have one or a couple of answers to such predicament.

So I related this to my wife (who is busy doing her job), and said that I could have all the property she got from her parents and relatives should she die. She does have some properties named to her, and by default I also can benefit from them. Of course I told her, "I'm not interested to have them so I better execute a marriage settlement should I plan to marry again, so that our daughters would not share with the subsequent issues." She smiled with a nod.

A moment later, she said, "If you die, why would I execute a marriage settlement on my subsequent marriage to another - you don't have properties of your own to start with!"

Bam!

Enough said. I returned to my review for the Political Law, then.

Talking to the Congregation on Apologetics

... but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 1 Peter 3:15

It's just fitting that I will be talking about apologetics to the congregation today. Pastor Salvador Caspillo assigned each deacon to have one Sunday each year (twice if none would take some Sunday) to speak on certain topic as assigned for that month. The topic of apologetics is very fitting because for almost a semester now, I have been introduced to the world of lawyers.

Yes, I am currently enrolled in Law School - where the interpretation of the law is a daily activity. I found out that this interpretation is rigid and dogmatic - not really should be called interpretation but construction - the act of construing. The law aptly call it Statutory Construction, in the Seminary it's called Hermeneutics.

I am appalled of the rigidity of the interpretation of the law because Judges adhere to the precedence of decisions of the Supreme Court for the understanding of the statutes or provisions of any code or body of law. In fact, all other laws lean on the utmost body of laws of any land - the constitution. Whenever a decision is made by the Supreme Court, or a law enacted by the legislation, or laws that the leaders implement - it called for a dogmatic compliance.

Our belief in God should also be rigid and dogmatic (2 Thessalonians 2:15). While we contend that we should show mercy and kindness to those who do not believe in Christ is "christianly" (Colossians 3:12), in ourselves the Word of God should have a strict application (Luke 12:48). God's Word should be the Constitution of our Faith and every ruling, statute and laws that we think govern our daily actions should lean on that Word (Nehemiah 8:8). To lean on His Word, means to follow Him.

The only way then to follow Him, and know what He wanted for us is to learn and study His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We ask His Holy Spirit to guide us in such endeavor and let the Spirit lead you to know his command (Galatians 5:25). If the laws that people make, is important - God's law is the most important.

Yet God's Law is not too difficult to understand nor to follow (Galatians 5:22-23). In fact, once you live by the Spirit, it is not difficult at all to follow it. This is what leaning on God meant.

On the other hand, I realized after few months in Law School that learning the law of the land is quite difficult and hard - man's laws are not perfect after all.

A blessed Sunday, everyone.