THE parable of the good seeds and the weeds (Mt. 13:24-30) reminds us of a truth we cannot ignore. Good and evil coexist in this world. Virtue grows alongside vice. Holiness must contend with sin. That is the reality we face every day.
We live amid corruption, dishonesty, impurity, pride, selfishness and deception. We cannot completely avoid these realities. The challenge is not to run away from the world but to remain spiritually clean while living and working in it. Christ himself showed us how.
He entered a sinful world without being tainted by its sin. He embraced suffering, rejection and death while remaining perfectly united with the will of the Father. His example teaches us that we may come into contact with the world’s dirt, but we should never allow it to stain our soul or weaken our fidelity to God.
Our concern, however, should not stop at protecting ourselves from evil. We have a mission. Every Christian is called to help cleanse the world by bringing Christ’s truth, charity and hope wherever he or she may be. We are meant to be instruments of God’s transforming grace in our homes, workplaces and communities.
This mission is impossible without a deep union with God.
Instead of asking to be spared from life’s difficulties, we should pray for the grace to remain close to God in every circumstance. Only through him can we stay spiritually clean while courageously facing the challenges around us. His grace enables us not only to resist evil but also to overcome it with good.
Real holiness is never superficial. It is not about projecting a polished religious image or seeking the admiration of others. Genuine holiness bears the marks of sacrifice. It accepts inconveniences, misunderstandings and suffering out of love for God. It perseveres quietly because it knows that every cross carried with Christ has redemptive value.
That is why we should never neglect our spiritual life.
Daily prayer keeps us connected with God. Frequent reception of the sacraments strengthens the soul. Spiritual direction offers guidance, while continuing formation deepens our understanding of the faith. At the same time, we should strive to grow in the virtues and learn to fight the spiritual battles that inevitably come with following Christ.
Among the most effective means of spiritual growth is the daily examination of conscience. This simple but powerful practice allows us to review our day before God. We recognize where we responded generously to his grace, where we failed, and where we need to improve. Without this regular self-examination, we can slowly drift into complacency and compromise without even noticing it.
The examination of conscience also helps us uncover the motives behind our thoughts, words and actions. Did we act out of love or pride? Were our decisions guided by faith or by convenience? Did we seek God’s will or merely our own comfort? These questions gradually sharpen our conscience and strengthen our commitment to live as authentic disciples of Christ.
As we become more aware of our weaknesses, we also become more grateful for God’s mercy. Every sincere examination should lead us to repentance, renewed resolve and greater confidence in God’s grace. Holiness is not achieved by human effort alone but by faithfully cooperating with the grace that God constantly gives us.
The weeds may continue to grow around us, but they should never discourage us. Christ has already overcome the world. Our task is to remain good seed—firmly rooted in him, continually purified by his grace, and actively bringing his light into places darkened by sin.
That is how we keep ourselves clean in a dirty world while helping cleanse it with the love, truth and grace of Christ.
On the impeachment trial
The cameras rolled, the senators took their seats, and the country once again found itself watching history unfold on live television. Strangely enough, I found myself looking forward to the proceedings instead of avoiding them. Far from convincing me that guilt had already been established, the spectacle strengthened my view that the accusations deserved the highest level of scrutiny before anyone could speak of conviction.
One reason I appreciate the televised nature of the proceedings is that it allows ordinary citizens to judge the arguments for themselves rather than rely entirely on headlines, edited clips, or partisan summaries. There is something refreshing about hearing testimonies, questions, objections, and explanations in their complete form. Sunlight remains a stubborn enemy of shortcuts. When every exchange is visible to the public, the viewers become silent spectators in the gallery, each carrying home his own verdict long before the chamber reaches its official one.
As I watch portions of the hearings and discussions surrounding them, I often come away with more questions than answers. Allegations are not evidence, suspicions are not proof, and political noise does not automatically become legal substance simply because microphones are nearby. The courtroom and the senate chamber may sometimes resemble a theater, but they are not supposed to operate on applause meters. If a case is strong, it should stand comfortably on documents, testimony, and verifiable facts rather than on volume, repetition, or public excitement.
Ironically, the very process that some expected would damage the Vice President politically has, in my view, given many citizens the opportunity to evaluate the accusations more carefully. Public proceedings have a habit of producing unintended results. Sometimes they sharpen accusations; sometimes they expose weaknesses; sometimes they simply reveal how divided interpretations can be in a highly polarized political climate. Whatever conclusion one reaches, transparency has allowed the public to participate in the evaluation rather than merely receive instructions on what to believe.
Yet my appreciation for the proceedings stops where the bill begins. Impeachment is among the most expensive political exercises a democracy can undertake. Every hearing, every administrative requirement, every hour spent inside the chamber carries a price tag eventually paid by taxpayers who expect roads to be repaired, classrooms to be built, medicines to reach hospitals, and services to reach communities. Government money behaves much like water in a dry season: once poured into one field, another field waits longer for its turn.
Time itself is another expense that rarely appears in accounting reports. Legislators have only a limited number of working days to craft laws, review budgets, and address national concerns affecting millions of people. An impeachment trial naturally commands attention and consumes political oxygen. Whether one supports or opposes the Vice President, it is difficult to deny that such proceedings inevitably rearrange priorities inside government halls.
Personally, I cannot escape the feeling that politics lurks behind every major political battle in the country, regardless of which side occupies the stage. Supporters of the Vice President see political demolition; critics see constitutional accountability. Perhaps this is the curse of Philippine politics: even legitimate processes are immediately viewed through the lens of party colors, alliances, rivalries, and future elections. Every move resembles chess, and the public is left wondering whether the pieces are advancing principles or merely protecting kingdoms.
I am somewhat happy that the proceedings are public because they allow citizens like me to observe, question, agree or disagree, and decide. I dislike the enormous cost, the time consumed, and the possibility that political calculations may overshadow the search for truth. If impeachment must proceed, then the best service it can render the nation is to remain anchored on evidence, fairness, and restraint, because institutions emerge stronger not when they defeat opponents, but when they convince citizens that justice—not politics—won the day.