THIS being the Holy Week, a time for reflection, I would like to share the story of The Son.
A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare and great works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. And they would often sit together and admire the great works of art around them.
When the Vietnam War broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous, but he died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified; he grieved deeply for his only son.
About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package on his hands. He said: “Sir, you don’t know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave up his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet from the enemy struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art.”
The young man held out his package and said: “I know this isn’t much. I’m not really a great artist and painter, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this,” and gave the package to the father.
The father opened the package. It was the portrait of his son, painted by the young man. The father stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes of his son in the portrait that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the portrait.
“Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It’s a gift,” the young man said.
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home, he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works of art he had collected. Sadly, the father died a few months later.
There was to be a great auction of his painting. Many influential and rich people gathered. They were excited over seeing the great paintings and having the opportunity to purchase one of the great collections of the deceased. On the platform sat the portrait of his son.
The auctioneer pounded the gavel and said: “We will start the bidding with the portrait of the son. Who will bid for this painting? There was silence. Then a voice from the back of the room shouted: “We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one,” the voice shouted, referring to the portrait of the son. But the auctioneer persisted: Will someone bid for this portrait? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?”
Another voice shouted angrily, “We did not come here to see the portrait. We came to see the van Goghs, the Rembrandts, the Picassos and Raphaels. Get on with the real bids!”
But, still the auctioneer continued. “The son! The son! Who’ll take the son?”
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the long-time gardener of the father and the son. The gardener said: “I’ll give $10 for the portrait of the son.” Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. The auctioneer then pounded his gavel said: “We have $10, who will bid for $20?” The auctioneer continued, “who’ll bid for $20”
People in the room said: “Give it to him for $10. Let’s see the masters.” Still, the auctioneer persisted, “$10 is the bid, won’t someone bid for $20?”
The crowd was becoming restless and angry. They did not want the painting of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their own collection. Then the auctioneer pounded the gavel and said. “Going once, twice...sold for $10!”
A man sitting on the second row shouted. “Now, let’s get on with the real collection of the masters!”
But the auctioneer laid down his gavel.
“I’m sorry,” he said, “the auction is over. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal the stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that portrait would inherit the entire estate, including all the paintings. The man who takes the son gets everything!”
This Holy Week, we should reflect and meditate that some 2,000 years ago, God gave his son, Jesus Christ, to be incarnate through the Blessed Virgin, to save mankind only to die on a cross on Good Friday. Much like the auctioneer, God’s message this Holy Week is, “The son, the son, who’ll take the son?”
* * *
During the graduation ceremonies at the Philippine National Police Academy in Silang, Cavite, President Aquino intoned that the truth about the Mamasapano clash must be told. And he went on saying that as President he did not send the PNP-SAF on a suicide mission.
Once again, he blamed lack of coordination between the police commandos and the military that resulted in the slaughter of the Fallen 44, and that those responsible will be held accountable.
I don’t know who the President’s ghost writer is, but if that’s what the President calls the truth, the President should fire his ghost writer.
The truth as found by the PNP Board of Inquiry is that the President broke the chain-of-command, and no matter how Justice Secretary Leila de Lima tries to exonerate boss, it was clear as day that he broke the chain of command. He made resigned police chief Alan Purisima, his best friend, on top of “Oplan Exodus,” since Purisima at that time was already suspended. Clearly, President has liability and culpability.
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