I saw this term at the opinion section from the newspaper Philippine
Daily Inquirer last Thursday a week ago made by well-known professor and writer
of the column, Mr. Randy David. He translated it from a familiar Filipino term "panata" which implies, “devotees who redeems a personal pact they make with God”. I just went on to read of his article to
have a glimpse of idea of what he can say, being aware of the feast and its
procession that is simultaneously happening at that moment. He cited that such
event speaks of the people of expressing their intense faith and just be
wondered at the collective energy created from the participants. He was
wondering if that energy contained from there (when converted can turn into a
collective power) could be harnessed into a positive force in building a
prosperous nation and decent society. And my interpretation after reading it
was, from an energy emanating from the innate being of every individual, as it
is being contributed to a certain goal, can possibly produce a power that can
be used, that will give people a source of strength and consistency to make it manifest in our
country. Which gives the author a hope that such power can be utilized in
uplifting ourselves. That was a good view.
After reading it, I felt such leading to expand it in a more
relatable yet different perspective in the light of our present situation which
I can hook up at this unique culture of spiritual fervor and the faith that I’m
believing in.
Here it goes.
Yes. There is a possibility that the collective energy being
gathered at that event can thrust the people to make it feasible. But we cannot
rely on the energy being created on that event to make our nation prosperous
and make our society decent and see our country changed. Why? It’s because the
whole event is a reflection of pure human effort. And pure human effort
falters. Humans are limited and it has a tendency to be unsteady in their
purpose and action in the long run due to its nature of depravity that limits
and pulls them back, after a certain thing that was reached, from where they
left to (stressing it more at the socio-political aspect). If there’s no such
thing inside of the people’s hearts that will push them to be consistent on their
purpose and to live for what is necessary and just, complacency enters. And is
wasted because it was taken for granted due to an unsparked and faltered
endeavor.
But there’s a solution for that. And good thing, as I’m living in
its simplicity I found its beauty.
I’m a Christian. A Born-Again Christian who believes at the finished
work of, and has an intimate relationship with, Jesus Christ and lets Him reign
in my life and makes me change for the better. I let Him replace my weaknesses
with His strength. I give to Him my sins and failures and gives me His
righteousness as an exchange. My inconsistencies to His steadiness. Being aware
of what “grace” does and who “Grace” is that sanctifies and strengthens me, I
can do things which are perfectly right and exceed more beyond the scope of my
limits. The mere fact that I cannot always be steadfast in the things that I do
due to my imperfections and limitations makes me more convinced to come to Him
that I may receive His fullness.
And now Christ’s power enters. He bestows that power (which is not
magical nor mystical, but spiritual that invades the natural) to those who
believe in Him. That power changes and transforms the decadent attributes of
our being and any form that is connected to evil to become righteous. And that is the very same power that raised
Christ from the dead. It is powerful indeed that it can break every chains,
cast down any stronghold, and remove any dominion that is against the will of
God. Knowing that I’m not perfect, acknowledging my weaknesses, I boast at it
all the more and Christ’s power becomes activated in me. That power never fades
in its capability, never wanes in its capacity, and never hesitates to create
possibilities. That power is independent, purely divine that never diminishes
because it is being given by the Creator of the universe that’s all-powerful.
And that power is living inside of me.
The reason why I shared it is this.
That power is perfect to create a positive force, suitable for us
who are hoping that this country will rise again. We can never hope at the
promises of those who govern us. We can never hope at the possibility that the expectation
of change that we wanted will be retained because no transformation has
occurred from the inner selves of those who pioneered such change back then,
and the disappointment that a shrunken expectation brings has proved it futile
because the consistency of its purpose had faltered. It’s all because of pure
human effort. For example, we have achieved freedom from dictatorship but still
remain as a slave of injustice, poverty, and selfishness. We have limited power
to achieve it, and just in case we have achieved it, we are deficient to fuel
up consistency to preserve it.
So where else can we find hope?
We can find it in Christ and his power empowering ourselves. And
having the revelation that receiving Him means we receive His power as well, it
will first change our lives and it will shift our perspective from settling for
less and live in compromise to do what is necessary, right and just. And
eventually, it will be an outflow of our hearts to be decent and we will become
prosperous in everything we do. It will also give us the strength that will
make us consistent to maintain it consequentially. Good ideas are really good
especially when transpired. But the consistency of sustaining it is what really
matters. We cannot be consistent. That’s where His power through His grace will
now take its effect.
Panata is not observed in the faith I belong in. And the divine old book
has stated that Christ has done it all. Therefore, I don’t have to do so much
work and effort in order to please God. I don’t need to perform something to
call God’s attention and ask for a miracle. I am accepted by God and I can come boldly to
Him because of Christ which He sees inside of me.
Then, corollarily speaking, I came to a point to see Panata on a different angle.
Let it be clear, there’s no such thing in the Bible that it must be
observed.
But we can rectify its purpose behind it and apply under the context
of the Word of God. We can make a personal pact with God. But at this point, it
will not be on our own effort. And that Panata
will not be done out of our strength. It is through the power of Christ that will
give us the energy for empowerment to carry out the good and great things we
aspire under His will and do it consistently and continually. Rather than
exercising annually a no-pain-no-gain belief and have the goal to touch a wood
carved image that carries a cross (which the devotees relate themselves their
personal plights to) which God has never ever intended for us to do.
If that’s opposing evil and injustice, stand on what’s right. If
that’s serving people, serve them well. If that’s appreciating the people
around you, honor them. If that’s honesty, do it with truth. If that’s helping
other people reach their dream, be a vessel. Devoting ourselves to any good thing that will benefit in a personal aspect, us and others, and in the political aspect, our country. Having the
understanding that Christ empowers us, we can do it consistently. You do it
unto the Lord, not as for men. And we will never falter. God is more likely to
be pleased in that, because His Son helps us to transpire it.
Taking it on a more personal note, I realized that I’m unconsciously
doing it. Personal pact with God in my Christian walk can probably be
deciphered as, “a response of faithfulness and consistency to the things He has
entrusted me to do.” That may explain the reason why I do the things that I
personally do. And take note, I do it not on my own effort. I’m limited.
Oh, but Jesus. And His grace. It suffices it all. And the best thing
in my part is that I do it out of my love for Him.
The reason why i'm doing it back then was a mystery, but it is now revealed.
And when this is practiced into the personal lives of every
individual who knows that they have a part to play, it can bring change in our
society.
If every people will just grasp the gravity of what I’m telling here,
no doubt, it can be possible.
As the reason behind this Filipino culture has been corrected and
modified by the things I’ve shared earlier, Panata
can be expressed properly as it is been guided according by God’s word.
As we see the importance of Christ’s relativity in our daily
personal lives, it can bring a tremendous transformation.
And to justify my title, if each of every one of us will make a
personal pact with God, that we will pray and act for the betterment of our
nation, it can bring social change.
Therefore, what Mr. Randy David is expecting of energy that can be
harnessed to be a positive force to build a prosperous nation and a decent
society, when we used the right power to attain it, without a doubt, will be transpired
someday.
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Credits to the writer of the column, Mr. Randy David.
His in-depth analysis and reflections about the country makes me his avid reader.
To have insights on what his reflection was about the feast of the Black Nazarene,
please visit this site.
opinion.inquirer.net/69131/culture-faith-and-the-black-nazarene
entitled, "Culture, faith and the Black Nazarene."
To God be the glory. :)
