Within Thy Wounds Hide Me

Towards a Re-evaluation of Values?

In this Sunday’s sermon, the priest said we should have an ear for trajectory of the scriptures and another ear for the trajectory of history. He said that it’s similar to the accomplishment of the Second Vatican Council, when it rode with the spirit of the times. Geist. Fresh out of Copenhagen, and disappointed with the poor outcome of Copenhagen, he insightfully highlighted the necessity of environmental consciousness and the reduction of carbon emissions. For your children and your children’s children, he said.

In his trajectory of history going hand in hand with the trajectory of the scriptures, he cited Mahatma Ghandi as a paragon – as Ghandi embodied and enacted the values of Christianity in aptness to a historical period. In front of the tabernacle, the priest was this close to saying (in a rather charming Irish accent) that Buddha is more Christian than Christians.

The previous Sunday, while singing the Lamb of God, a child was acting out the lyrics. It was so sincere, and so truthfully cherished, as only a child could pray. The most unblemished form of prayer comes from children.

In morning masses at 9am, it’s usually a children’s choir who sings in Malate. It poses a more magical efficacy when children in chorus beautifully voices out “hide me in thy wounds...” or “your children have grown weary in living in confusion.”

Religion is the opium of the masses, so Marx says. But they’ didn’t have rehab back then. I've sort of gone through a religious rehab. Now that I am free, but not necessarily enlightened, I want my opium.

Religion is also the childlike condition of humanity, Feuerbach goes. I still believe in Feuerbach. Since I am going to be a father soon, I’ve merrily reawakened the child in me. I’ve also concluded that Catholicism is essential to the value formation of our child, a necessary step towards a Nietzschean re-evaluation of values.

But know that all your life, you will have to seek out the Truth, my child. Have faith in what is good, hope fervently, uphold what is right, and as your mother says: pray, pray, pray from your heart.