If it’s your time…

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THE death of someone prominent (in this case, Jacklyn Jose) always provokes rounds of discussions about death and dying. Because she passed away alone, many lamented the fact that she had no companion around who could have sounded the alarm, or no regular caller to check up on her. I then heard someone say whether or not she was alone, “kung oras mo na, oras mo na.”

If it’s your time, it’s your time.

‘You see, if it’s not your time, then for sure you’ll come out of your current difficulties without issue.’

Filipinos love to say that. But I do not believe Filipinos believe that. Many Filipinos always say “If God wills it” but deep inside I also do not believe they mean it. So, every time I hear someone say these, I smile. And here’s why.

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Let’s take “If it’s your time, it’s your time.” Think about it. If you honestly and truly believe this deep in your heart, then you need not call out to God in times of distress, like during a mishap or an illness or right before major surgery. Why should you? If it’s your time, then no amount of pleadings will change your fate — unless you think God can be moved by last-minute appeals (which raises new problems). So, if it’s your time then all you need to do is surrender and just mutter “Thy will be done.” No need to even bother family and friends to please pray because I am about to have surgery. (Does it matter to God how many pray for us?)

You see, if it’s not your time, then for sure you’ll come out of your current difficulties without issue. Because it isn’t your time yet. So why bother begging the angels to intercede on your behalf?

Either you believe that “if it’s your time, it’s your time” or you don’t. Make up your mind.

The same goes for “if God wills it.” This beautiful statement of surrender of fate to a higher Will is so empty because we Filipinos love doing anything and everything we can to try to bend that Will to our liking. There are all the novenas and prayers of intercession; all the intentions said during Catholic mass that you have to pay for (don’t forget). Then, there’s the begging family and friends to include you in their prayers — which makes me think that Filipino Catholics believe that God can be moved by an overwhelming number of petitions in your favor, the very basis for the Catholic Church selling prayers through centuries. God is not like Pinoy Big Brother who depended on text votes to decide who is booted out of the House. Otherwise, we envision a God who is biased towards those with many friends — or with so much money they can buy all the intentions available on any given day.

Is that how you perceive your God to be?

If it’s my time, it’s my time.

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