‘Let The Dead Bury The Dead’

Let’s contemplate on this 60th verse of the Book of Luke of the king James Version which deals on the case of a disciple who was worried about the burial of his member of the family. Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury the dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God…” Jesus as what the interpretation of this – the dead are those who have sinned and they should be responsible to save themselves. Jesus has invited the said disciple to follow Him and to do the Lord’s work by doing the missionary work by converting those sinners.

We know there is a big difference if we connect this with the controversial burial of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos of the Philippines. Anyway let’s again contemplate on the interment of the dead body of President Marcos, which had been preserved for more than two decades already since he was ousted from his presidency by the People’s Power in 1986 and was forced to exile himself to Hawaii where he died there. His surviving family later brought the President’s demise to Batac, Ilocos Norte, his hometown in the Philippines.

In the said hometown, President Marcos’ dead body was preserved by his family, pending his interment at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani (LNMB) as interpreted as Heroes’ Cemetery. In the desperate situation of his family, they interceded the Supreme Court (SC) to permit them to bury the mummified body of Marcos. After several deliberations and oral argumentations conducted, the highest court came up with a decision based on the merits of allowing the burial by legal means, among others.

The Marcos’ family desperate appeal was heard by the SC and handed the decision in their favor of by 9-5-1 decision. Nine had concurred. Five dissented. And one abstained. The court’s decision stirred those who are against Marcos’ internment in LNMB, especially those who were the Martial Law victims. They were the one who staged a rally before the SC while the hearing of series of oral arguments were conducted.

No Fanfare Burial

Now lately the said court’s decision as observed by a veteran lawyer wasn’t final and executory. It should have final resolution from the Supreme Court to give the go signal for the burial. Sad to note, however, it was learned recently that Marcos’ dead body is buried while President Rody Duterte is out of the country to attend the APEC summit. It is overheard from the radio that proper security was provided by the police. The burial took at 12 noon with a military honor, among others.

For Marcos antagonists, that “sneaky” Marcos burial was “surreal”, “Once a thief is always a thief till his burial”, “No dignity in this burial”, among others. That is but natural. We couldn’t expect something good from those who have unforgiving attitude of those victims and those who support those Marcos’s regime victims.

Now it’s done. Then what?

One of the notable decision of the Supreme Court is “national healing and reconciliation”. Now, the dead is buried. What comes next? It is, therefore, time to bury the “dead” which Jesus has come here on earth and has called fishermen as “fishers of men” to preach the truth, the gospel towards salvation, towards the attainment of eternal life.

As time goes on, those things about the misdeeds of ex-president Marcos would be “buried” to oblivion. The Filipino knows Marcos is “no hero” because as what they claimed that He is a traitor, a thief or anything that discredited him. But he has been the President of the Philippines. He has accomplished for the Philippines. Only his successors failed to perpetuate them for the reasons they only knew.

It’s time to forgive and forget. Again let’s contemplate on this controversial word of “unforgiving” according to the Bible. “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14 -15, NIV)

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37) I don’t have to explain those verses for they are self-explanatory to avoid misinterpretation.

If we want peace, let’s settle it first within us. If we couldn’t, we couldn’t also get it from others.

image by bernswalez, Pixabay/Public Domain