Living Sprirituality

Liberation theology focuses on Jesus Christ as not only the Redeemer but also the Liberator of the oppressed. It emphasizes the Christian mission to bring justice to the poor and oppressed, particularly through political activism.

Liberation theology also emphasizes what proponents describe as individual self-actualization as part of God's divine purpose for humankind.

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In one of the homilies of the masses attended by Eng'r Lozada, the celebrant priest asked, "Buhay ka ba o nabubuhay lang?". This question has had a profound effect in me that that I dusted off my old liberation theology pamphlets to reread them.

How can we say we are religious or even on a quest for spirituality and ignore social reality? Can you say you are living up to your faith when you have not raised a finger against social evils? Do you save your soul when you let evil-doers spread their scum in society?

Even in Buddhism, bodhissatvas postpone their nirvanas in order to help their fellow men. A bodhissatva partake the role of a social activist and help their fellow being emancipate and liberate themselves from the ills of their present existence.

In both liberation theology and the bodhissatva concept, one is concerned with the upliftment of one's fellow being so that they can achieve their full potentials as creatures of the divine. Self-actualization can only be had when the social hurdles we face are eradicated. The awareness of the poor can not be focused to higher concerns unless their basic needs are addressed. An oppresive government that keeps its people under the bondage of poverty is thus actively preventing its citizenry from pursuing their spiritual aspirations. A government that promotes and tolerates social injustice is therefore against the people's divine right to self-actualization.