Democracy

You look at the title’s concept, it actually refers to that famous phrase “a government of the people, for the people and by the people.”   You don’t have to complicate it. It just simply presupposes listening to and consulting the people that a government is intending to rule or govern.  Not an autocratic but a democratic government.  Hence you check the origin of the word, the initial part demo is derived from the Greek demos which means people.  The second part of the word refers to the kind of activity which is more or less general or common in conceptual meaning.

The meaning is that a democracy takes into consideration the mind or the will of the people, while aristocracy tends to give unlimited power to one person.  Present trends are democratic, as the more popular forms, and are also consultative of the people’s opinion.

Human foolishness or indiscretion

In spite of all human mistakes or indiscretion we can only gaze in awe and wonder how God keeps the world in existence.  Yes, there have been so many wars and violent exchanges in the past, lots of bombs exploding during past wars, and we have to thank the Lord who in His providence has kept us in existence.  No wonder there are people we admire and with whom we wish to join in prayer, as they persevere in trusting God Almighty for His protection on us poor mortals in spite of the indiscreet violence of many foolish or ambitious people.

                Yes, God is still in control because there are holy people who pray and trust in His mighty works.  Otherwise, if it were not for those humble and saintly people who call upon the Lord confidently, what will happen to humanity in general.  It might be the poor and simple people who restrain God’s punishing arm from punishing the abuse of the violent and rich who might not respect the rights of the less fortunate in society.  We must remember in this world there is a living God who cares for the poor.  Otherwise, how could this universe of ours last this long in existence.  Since there are multifarious arms for violence we must exert extra efforts for the reign of peace.

Remember history!

Why remember history or past events, personal or historical?  The reason is so we may not repeat past mistakes and also learn from them important lessons.  That’s the importance of history to help us avoid past mistakes.  Besides, remembering history also helps us thank God for His provident help and action in our lives.  What we are now is because of God’s care and love for each and everyone of us in the various stages and happenings of our life history.  Such is the song that should emanate from our lips, a thank you to the Lord of history who has accompanied our lives ever since.

                Let us remember the words of St. Paul in the Bible, Rom. 8:28: “We know that by turning everything to their good God cooperates with all those who love Him, with all those that He has called according to His purpose.”

Earthly life

We must remember that our life here on earth is just a temporal passage towards an eternal existence in another life which would constitute either the reward or punishment, depending on how we lived our existence on this earth.  Nobody doubts this life is temporal and passing since we can see that by our own observation of life here on earth that there is an end to it, no doubt about that.  The mere fact that there are funerals and burial places proves that.  We just have to follow what the Holy Bible tells us that our lives must follow God’s laws so we may be granted God’s eternal reward and felicity for our good behavior in our temporal lives on earth.

You can observe from the circumstances of people and things around us that everything passes away with time.  In the Holy Bible you can read in the book of Ecclesiastes: “There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven: a time for giving birth, a time for dying, a time for planting, a time for uprooting what has been planted” (Eccles.. 3:1-2).

A thrilling life

People would think that only a life exposed to worldliness is full of events that can thrill the heart or mind of man.  But nothing may be further from the truth.  The lives of the Saints were presumably full of God-inspired thrills and happiness even if they preferred lives of humble obscurity.  They lived not to show off sanctity or holiness, but mainly to do their duties in the circumstances God placed them.  Yet such lives dedicated to the love of God and the fellow-men and women were not bereft of thrills and happy moments that make life interesting and colorful.

Yes, a life of goodness and love also comes gifted by God with those gifts of the spirit and occasions of great happiness that can surely satisfy the natural desires of the heart, since God who is the source of all happiness would not deprive His true servants of their own fair share of joys, happiness and glory.  Though, of course, the main assurance of the Saints that contents their hearts’ desires is the assurance of a place in God’s heavenly kingdom.

“What will it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul in the end?” (Mt. 8:36).