During this Season of Lent, Christians reflect on the suffering, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

When we do so, we can also reflect on how our Christianity affects the economic aspects of our lives. Being aware of the economic setting of the events that led to Christ’s ultimate suffering and our redemption, we note the poverty of the masses and the economic power of the religious and political leaders in those times.

I can’t help but make comparisons about those times in history and the pervasiveness of poverty and the existence of the economically powerful in today’s Philippine society.

One gets the feeling that, in a sense, the conditions that existed in those days some 2,000 years ago still exist today in this country. Some countries in Europe, Asia, in North and South America may be cited as being successful in changing their economic conditions very dramatically.

What has gone wrong all these two thousand years in our country that has left us the way we were or must have been two thousand years ago?

In this situation, it is natural to ask: is there a link between our religious beliefs and our present conditions? Or has religious nothing to do at all with our present economic condition where about a third of Filipinos live below the poverty line?

Or should the question, especially during Holy Week, be: how can we make our Christian beliefs contribute to the improvement of our economic conditions which includes an unemployment rate of 7.87 percent (2006 figure) or approximately 3 million Filipinos unemployed?

Maybe, we should start with our leaders. To what extent are they following the teachings of Christ?

We can also ask the voters and followers: are you conscious of the teachings of Christ when you choose your leaders?

The timing of the elections a few weeks after the Holy Week is appropriate. It makes as relate our power and right to vote with our Christian beliefs.

The glorious event in Calvary and the resurrection of Jesus should inspire us to make Christianity not just a way of life, but a way towards a better economic future.

Obviously, a lot of work still needs to be done by generations of Filipinos to make this a reality.