Good Works and Media

The Philippines, particularly Luzon was recently devastated by two powerful typhoons--Ketsana (Ondoy) and Parma (Pepeng)--leaving behind a lot of miserable people, needing humongous relief, mainly food, clothing, medical care, and shelter.  The image on the right shows typhoon Parma almost stationary above North Luzon, soaking it, being followed by supertyphoon Melor (went to Japan).  Obviously there is a need to give relief packages to them, and people who actually do the handing of the items.  Some popular personalities however said things on air that prompted this writing.  One says that people, particularly politicians and actors, ought not to show their faces while handing the packages, or perhaps not to give their names when donating.  Please, let's not criticize people for doing good!  Let's not put malice where there is none.  The faint of heart might lose interest in the whole thing just because of such idle talk.  They somehow remind us of the following biblical passage:

"Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6.1-4 RSV)

They do seem to have a point, right?  But then turn one chapter back and read...

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5.14-16 RSV)

Now this is the reason why private interpretation of scripture does not always work.  The two passages seem to be contradictory at first glance; note that both came from St. Matthew's gospel.  But there is no contradiction!  It boils down to the real intent of the person.  If the real intention was to be seen doing good, then the act of gift-giving is hypocritical--there'll be no reward from God.  For politicians, it is indirect vote-buying at the least.  But if the person goes to the aid stations with pure intentions, then the presence of cameras is incidental only.  So folks who condemn these people need to shut up; nobody can really read minds, nobody can see the intent of people.  In conclusion, I leave this passage for our own meditation:

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, `Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under foot and turn to attack you." (Matthew 7.1-6 RSV)

Let's continue being neighbors to everyone; let's rise again after this fall. Think positive, walang iwanan!