By Teodoro Bacani Jr.

I have been searching the Bible for words from Jesus that would serve as guide to our political and business leaders. Here are some sayings of Jesus which, if heeded, lead to political transformation in our country.

“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” (Mt. 22: 21-22). Everything belongs to God, though he has allotted some things to belong to civil authorities. No worldly power can have totalitarian authority over human beings. There is a boundary which they must not transgress, though there are things that citizens are obliged to render to them. Consonant with this, St. Paul, after Jesus, writes: “Pay to all their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, toll to whom toll is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due” (Rom. 13: 7). But there are limits to what persons in authority can command. When earthly authorities command something contrary to the will of God, they must be refused obedience. Such would be the case when a police or military officer commands a subordinate to summarily kill without due process a suspect in a crime, or when a public official orders a subordinate to cooperate in a corrupt act. In the Philippine setting but also in other places, subordinates sometimes carry out unjust commands and then defend themselves with the words, “I was only obeying orders,” or “Iniutos po ni sir/mam” [It was an order from sir/madam]. A law that is contrary to the divine law is not to be obeyed because it is not a valid law. Catholics must object conscientiously to unjust laws and impositions by civil authorities.

“You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above” (Jn. 19: 11). These words of Jesus to Pilate tell him and all in authority that whatever power they have is a gift entrusted to them by God, not to be used arbitrarily but responsibly. It is good for those in power to remember what Spider Man says in the movie, “With great power comes great responsibility.”

“You are the salt of the earth. . . . You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. . . . Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Mt. 5: 13-14, 16). This applies to all of Christ’s disciples, but they apply in a special way to Christians who are public officials. They must, like salt, flavor society with Christ’s values and preserve it from corruption. They must bring the light of truth and love to the world instead of the darkness of deceit and selfishness. And they must show by Christian deeds the light of the Gospel so that people may glorify God. Politicians must seek the glory of God and not glory from men.

“The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them and those in authority over them are addressed as ‘benefactors’; but among you it shall not be so” (Lk. 22: 25). These words addressed to the disciples tell them and us that those in authority in the Christian community should not imitate the ways of pagan rulers who oppress their subjects and are regarded nevertheless as benefactors of those whom they oppress. This is a good reminder to our leaders both in the Church and in the government not to lord it over the people whom they are meant to serve, and not to claim to be benefactors of the people when they initiate projects using the people’s money (“This is a project of Gov. Ku Rakot”).

“But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing” (Mt. 5: 3). A salutary reminder to politicians who do good to their constituents not to do so for publicity purposes.

“The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve” (Mt. 4: 10). These words by which Jesus repelled the temptation of Satan to assume power over the whole world on condition that he would prostrate himself before Satan and worship him, are an apt reminder to politicians who would grab power at all costs, even to the point of doing the bidding of Satan by cheating, lying, threatening, and killing people. Power should only be received from God and never accepted from the devil.

“You cannot serve God and mammon [money]” (Mt. 6: 24). Jesus warns us of the incompatibility of worshipping God and money at the same time. There are people and politicians and businessmen who profess to serve God but who make of money a rival god to whom they dedicate even more of their time and energy. Think of politicians who by their corrupt acts steal the people’s money or spend it unconscionably and yet are also very regular in their religious practices. What a difference it would make in their lives and for our country if they were to single-mindedly serve God.

“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions” (Lk.. 12: 15). Today, people are evaluated according to their wealth. Rich people are those “may sinasabi” (literally, “They have a say”), those who matter, the powerful ones. Thus, people use their power to accumulate wealth, and never seem to be satisfied with what they have been able to get whether legitimately or illegitimately. The Lord reminds us that this will all come to an end, and perhaps unexpectedly. Let us not put too much stock on wealth, especially ill-gotten wealth.

“What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Mk. 8: 36). These words of Jesus show that it is not worth it to gain even the whole world if one thereby loses one’s true self. How often men and women have been too willing to lose their own true selves, and barter away their dignity and conscience just to possess power or wealth! To lose one’ true self is to lose everything. What remains is an empty shell which must be propped up by experts in perception management and image projection. ( To be continued )