Showing posts with label Abrahamic Salutation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Abrahamic Salutation. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Wars of Religion

Wars of religion are never entered into. If memory serves and history is accounted for - there are wars that go beyond the pale of the conventional spectrum of conflict: unlimited, unrestricted wars.

Conversely, to think of peace is to think about people in human terms.


Religion ought to enable us to more closely reflect in our common humanity what makes the human family better belong. What commits to war and what commits to peace.

Christianity is not lacking in violent history.

Historically, where conflicts between Christians were the most terrible, it was always very much politically concerned. In those days, religious war was less an existential contradiction than a political pretext. So much was prevented by those conflicts... 

Indeed, through whatever door it gains entry into the times - war seeks no other greater inspiration than violence. Once the killing starts, war becomes its own appearance upon our world.

These days, I hold to the view that keeps with the memory of those days: religion must never again be used as a weapon against other people.

Wars of religion fought by any which religion burns with the same relentless hate that burned our world in times past - and makes no promises it shall ever change.

In my remembrance, Christianity is not compatible with war and never was.

To me, all war is - is political. Religion can be political at times. But religion is also deeply human. War is not human and never was human. No terrorist claim will convince me otherwise.

The division in Islam and the divisions in Christianity arose from issues apart and distinct - but seems afflicted with the same vulnerability. This vulnerability - to the spirit of war - appears the same, and it exploits it the same also.

I do not know how these divisions will ultimately find their way again back into unity. I do know that unity is eternal. And were these divisions to remain in the domain of war, no nation will be able to contain its appearances as wars upon the earth. For in this day and age, war is not what it once was. 

Nations are in spirit made simpler. For we on earth must live out a more complex reality.

All nations answer to the one, same human accounting - and, as its own labors of Country, allows the space for its peoples - oppressed by war - to build up the earth and to better their times. That war may flee where none pursueth.

The maturity of the peace of nations must be helped by religion. 

For matters of religion must necessarily involve greater realities.
---<--@

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

The Great Radicalizer

Who is the great radicalizer but the spirit of War?


















Consistent,
persistent states of violent war
that reduce to meaningless suffering
unto despair -
the labor of our nations,
destroying the living fabric of our national communities,
and displacing the spirit and the memory
of entire peoples
from their own sense of common humanity.

War
that eventually calls down
an atmosphere (strange and unfamiliar)
that attracts radicals (i.e. political extremists)
from all walks of life -
and from all ways of religion.

But we, my people -

The Peace we shall share - together this time - shall be a great producer.

The Peace we are striving towards shall be a great producer of leaders, builders, farmers, fishers, merchants, artists, healers, craftsmen, and soldiers.

It shall be a Peace that sustains our common humanity and a Peace that obtains from God and All Heaven, every form of gift and blessing the LORD has promised our Father Abraham of old - for this Nation and all our kindred Nations in our one Family of Nations.

Learners we shall each be unto one another, knowing wonders - under this new Season and Sky.

It shall be our shelter in these times, and the overcoming strength of our generations.
---<--@


Keep Calm and Support the Bangsamoro

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Shalom. Salaam. Peace.

"I will turn them back into their nations
and return them to a memory of themselves
unto the work that I have purposed for the earth
that they may understand again the value of peace
so that I may prosper them through their generations
and bring them back to a memory of each other."
---<--@



I love the Holy Land
and have often thought -

If Israel is attacked, I am an Israeli.

If Palestine is attacked, I am a Palestinian.

If both Israel and Palestine are attacked -
then I am Israeli and Palestinian both.

But when they attack each other,
I am sorely grieved...

I am sorely grieved
for the least, the defenseless,
and the voiceless among them both.

For when both attack each other,
it is never the blame of the weak
but always of the strong...

In this way, I find my voice.

So that when in my heart I affirm -
"let there be peace be in the Middle East!",
I become sure of my own sincerity.
---<--@


No Way

Monday, January 9, 2012

We are Complete

Let me bless the LORD, my honorable nation,
Let me bless the LORD before thee, my beloved people,
for God saw it fit that my silent seeking should be answered -
had we but two of the great Abrahamic faiths
present in the midst of our peoples?

No, my Philippines - we are complete.

Alleluia - bless the Name of God, our King - we are complete!

I did not think till yesterday early morning that we had a living branch of Elder Israel dwelling within the bounds of our Country.

So to the Jewish Community here in our Philippines, let me say this blessing unto each of thee -


The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!

At mabuhay po tayong lahat!
---<--@

We are different, yet we are the same -


Shalom. Salaam. Peace.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Salutation #76

You might say, my dear Filipino soul, that that embattled region of our Asia, the Middle East, is not our concern - not our concern at all.

Ah, but it is!

Believe me when I say it, the fate of many nations depend on it.

- selah -

Here is a map of the region: Where are the divisions here?


My beloved brothers and sisters of the Promise,
hear me when I say -

The lines on a map are artificial
- insofar as we understand -
that these are not meant to scatter the hearts of our nations
nor divide and dilute the concentrated spirit of our common humanity
but to facilitate the temporal labor of our nations (as Countries upon our world)
that we may better bring continually forth and preserve
a wholesome and healthy sense of meaningful purpose to our world
sustaining an order built upon a just and abiding peace
among all peoples of the earth
according to the needs of every present time.

Now,
these lines become permanent divisions
that lay its dark siege against the life of our nations
insofar as the peoples of Mankind forget that
- Unity is Eternal -
and the hearts of the children of Mankind
freely and willingly permit
the War in heaven a place on earth.


Salutation #76

(The one Cause of Palestine)

Palestine is divided,
the sky above the heart of Asia
lay shattered only because we accept it.

Say thee with me,
I for one do not accept it!

Neither do I accept the manifold evils
that embattle her peoples, making them suffer,
in spirit as well as in temporality.

For my vision of the region
and every undertaking of Country that must animate all these favored lands
is not one of division but of unity.

So peace be with you!

Unity is Eternal.

Let this be your vision as well.

- selah -

To the nations -
When art thou going to stop
feeding the insatiable division that is slowly
killing the needful cause of the peace of Modern Israel
and therefore, making permanent the darkness engulfing
all the suffering peoples of that choice and blessed region of Palestine?

To all you with hearts to listen,
all my brothers and sisters of the Promise -

The "Palestinians" stand for a cause
for which all nations are in spirit purposed on earth
by the God of all heaven and earth.

If they were not
- in the eyes of many -
one people united in heart before,
all of this present turmoil, tragedy and grief
has certainly bound them together
as one nation now.

This is a truth that by any other name remains the truth.

Therefore,
if you shall say the "Palestinians" are an invented people,
then you might be implying that the cause for which they are united
is a fabricated cause.

And if you shall say that the Palestinian Cause is a fabricated cause,
this might indicate that you are unable to grasp the long view of the region.

And if you allow yourself to freely believe this,
for whatever reason, conscious or unconscious, you may allow;
if you fail to consider the realities on the ground,
you support neither Israel or Palestine.

Say thee with me,
I will never stand for nor tolerate terrorism
nor shall I ever desire the destruction of any nation
above all Israel whom one should love dearly
and to whom one should speak the truth.

Truly,
if we are not careful, O my nations,
if we continue to allow for the deception of War
to sow its scattering in each our hearts;
if we permit the beast of War
even a toehold in our souls,
we all shall fail.

- selah -

I have always maintained - to each of you -
that the Middle East is where the siege of War shall be broken;
that it is here where the darkness of the last great age of war shall be lifted,
however, I have also always carefully reminded each of you that this is a choice
and that we must make this choice today while it is still today.

For our unity is an integral part of our liberty as nations
- human nations, O human Man,
nations dreaming together this time.

Therefore,
my brothers and sisters of the Promise,
let this be the prayer in our heart -

Let there be peace across all of Palestine;
a peace to calm the storm at the heart of our Asia!

Let there be peace across all of Palestine -
for the sake of all the nations of our needful world,
including our beloved Philippines.

Above all,
let there be peace across all of Palestine
- a constant reign of truth -
for the sake of those long-suffering peoples
descended from the lineages of
both Isaac and Ishmael
(both of which are beloved of God as we are beloved of God)
and the nations God had intended for their safety and progress
for the honor of the LORD,
the glory of the unity of God,
and the salvation of many.
---<--@

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Salutation #71

Again the LORD's messenger called to Abraham from heaven and said:


"I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your beloved son,

I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore;

your descendants shall take possession of the gates of their enemies, and in your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing - all this because you obeyed my command."

- Genesis 22: 15-18



(An Abrahamic Prayer)

LORD God,
We humbly implore Thee:

help all Thy Muslims,
help all Thy Jews,
help all Thy Christians,
help us in all Thy nations, dear God -
help us to find each other in the dark.

Incline each our hearts
unto Thee, O LORD,
our one True Light.
Refresh our spirits!

May we be as a people
after Thy own Heart, O LORD,
all Thy numberless stars,
guided by the light of Thy Peace
and blessed by Thy will of good
for all Mankind.

Forsake us not, O LORD,
lest we perish in the darkness.

Fulfill in us that promise
Thou swore to our Father Abraham,
that promise Thou hast made of old,
O LORD, that Thou shalt lead us ever onward,
that Thou shalt guide us
toward the building of a better world
for all Thy nations.

By the light of Thy own faithfulness,
O LORD, bind us together
in the unity of Thy own Truth.

Establish Thy Holy Presence in our hearts
as a revelation upon the nations,
that Thou art God, O LORD,
He Who is, the LORD!
And let this be as the dawning
of Thy glory upon the earth.

AMEN.
---<--@

Therefore,
may our understanding of Peace
- be blessed with abundance -
by the one LORD of our nation
and of all nations - the God of Peace.

May our will be directed by God
to the truth that we are one nation,
- brothers and sisters -
in the singular labor of peace
and peace which brings
true prosperity, happiness,
and the realization of our nationhood.

May our common salutation of Peace
be a reflection of the fullness of this knowledge
in our heart of hearts - that -
as children of the Promise,
we are all born to that one promise of old
that God made to our Father Abraham
that we shall be a blessing to our nations.

Let us be as a light unto each other,
ever as the numberless stars - that -
in the darkness of these times,
shines steadfastly the way forward
into a new age for our one Filipino nation
and for our one family of nations
- a new age of Peace.

Salaam. Shalom. Peace.

Under our one Republic sky,
my brothers and sisters of the Promise,
we are but one House - one lineage of victory -
for this House doth serve the LORD,
O my nation - forever!
---<--@

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Salutation #66

How long before we can bring them relief?

To many it shall be too late...

How shall we stand accountable
- for our gift of belonging to each other -
to the God of all heaven and earth?

How shall we explain
our claim to rightful citizenship?


(Identifying with the Peace)

I am for Peace.
I am passionate for the peace.
I will always be for peace.

But I am not for endless talk without fruit.

And the fruit I am seeking
is every form of good
- both in heaven and on the earth -
which is edible to our people
and eternally pleasing to the God of all peoples:
the LORD - our King - and one Sovereign of all nations;
fruit which is especially wholesome - for the littlest Filipino -
on the ground of our Land of the Morning.

I am the same as War - in that -
I do not discriminate between distinctions
that make a Filipino into his or her own unique person.
A hungry Filipino is a hungry Filipino
- no matter the differences -
that make us into Christians, Muslims, or Lumads;
male or female, young or old, better or worse, richer or poorer -
for we are one nation, my beloved people!

All our generations is entrusted by the LORD to the care of each other
and our singular consecration before the God in Eternity is to life;
unto the life of our nation is invested the hope of Sacred Life
all plant and all animal life, both great and small,
especially those who are native to our lands
- above all human life!

Peace is our common salutation.
---<--@

Fly Old Defiant:

Defy War. Defy Darkness. Defy Evil. Defy Corruption. Defy Poverty.

Prosper the Peace! Prosper the People!

Monday, October 31, 2011

Salutation #63

When you say "yes" to Peace you can not say "yes" to War as well.


(New, Old Philippines)

Tell them -

The LORD has heard thee crying out from thy heart
- O my one Filipino nation -
in the weeping of thy widows,
and in thy orphans,
in thy poor and the needy,
in all the travails of thy sons and daughters
and from out of the blood of all thy unforsaken dead
- all thy salty tears -
- all thy crying out to God -
- all thy mourning has not gone unnoticed -
for the one God of all heaven and earth has heard thee
- the LORD is His Name!

Therefore,
God desires a new, old civilization of peace for our people.

A national community such as this world has not yet seen
being cognizant of its own truth and certain of its own humanity.
It shall rise out of the ashes of the last great age of War
- an endeavor of Country, old as time itself, yet new to our exiled earth -
a Republic in His Majesty's Service!

Yea, my people -
that thou may know in thy one heart of hearts
that the LORD, thy God, is the God of all true belonging
and of the hosts that stand in defense of faithful community
- the LORD Himself shall be our King.

And all these things shall fall into their proper places and times
before the countenance of our God;
our original culture of life reconstituted,
the labor of these times re-dedicated
- to the fostering of justice, truth, and equality for all -
and the life of our common peoples safeguarded
by her one, faithful Republic.

It shall be the triumph of the one Filipino nation
who from least to greatest, bound by the freedom of our gifts,
shall cleave as citizens and human beings to each other
unto one ascent, one lineage of hope, 7,107 islands strong.

And Peace shall be our common salutation.

- selah -

How can we know the triumph of our nation
if we can not hear the song of our victory?

And how can we hear the song of our victory
if we can not say "yes" to God today?
---<--@

‎"The hottest places in Hell is reserved for those who, in a time of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality." (Dante Alighieri)
---<--@

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Shalom. Salaam. Peace. God bless us all.

A Prayer to the King

Service is a calling (not an ambition)

The Circular Relationship of the Four Causes

Friday, August 5, 2011

20110805

Man is a creature of possibilities. Therefore, know your limits. But do not allow yourself to be defined by them.

Salutation #45


(The Gift)

You know in your heart, dear Starshine,
you belong to something greater than thee!

Now there is a dream that lives in thy every spirit
and this truth in thee gives thy soul its powers of flight.
It is present in all thy reaching out to both heaven and earth
for thy dream is an irreplaceable fragment of a greater dreaming.

You are a person called to the labor of the earth;
a citizen purposed by God for the peace of thy nations;
a promise born into the great dreaming of the exile children of Mankind;
thy soul summoned by Our Creator from the nothingness of the void;
a unique fragment of what once was now reside as a mystery in thy own self.

In thy every heart,
you long for thy own place in time,
in so many ways of expressions unique to each of thee
yet each equally true according to thy reaching out
for that same timeless seeking for answers
to the one question that lay at the very beginning of thy being
beckoning thee unto a memory exceedingly sublime
- neither past, present, nor future -
when the Heavens above thee were one,
and the Earth was at one with its own native Sky.
When the portals of Eternity were open and attentive to thy humanity
and the Throne of the LORD burst forth with a golden radiance
embracing all things everywhere with the splendor of the glory of God.
When the Presence of the LORD was upon the face of the Earth,
ministering freely to all thy worlds, within and without,
calling forth all creatures to God, and fruition, and constant felicity;
blessing all the realms of creation with every abundance and in all truth.
When the Light of the LORD filled thy Earth and Sky,
uniting all living beings, seen and unseen,
into the glorious Peace of the one great belonging of God.

Your happiness is a freedom to search for the answers
to that one longing that lives in thy every heart -
a longing that the LORD has for thee lovingly invested
born of a promise thy Creator has laid at the seat of thy own soul;
a freedom to give shape thy every life's purpose
and a hope to whet thy faith for the things of heaven
to stir thy heart unto a remembrance of God
and in God a remembrance of all things in each thy behalf.

For thy common salutation is Peace
so mean it well for this Peace is of a truth;
a good that is beyond all understanding.
---<--@

Mabuhay po tayong lahat! Peace. Salaam. Shalom. God bless all His nations of the one family of the nations of Mankind.

Everybody have a great weekend!


Heartsong

I AM the unsung song
that lives within a dream;
the seed within a soul.

Every infinite universe
embraced from within
the heart of God.

I am the road
not the destiny,

I am the journey
not the destination,
I am the dreaming
not the dream,
I am the becoming,
not the being,
I am the singing,
not the song,
I am the climb
not the peak,
I am what soars!

I begin with a praise -
I breathe the air,
and cry out loud:
Alleluia to the LORD!

I end with a praise -
I lift my head,
and bow my heart:
Alleluia to the LORD!

I am heartsong.

Virtue of Truthfulness

Now please, here is our challenge for this month - 201108