By REV. LUNA L. DINGAYAN

“Just then a man with an evil spirit came into the synagogue and screamed, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Are you here to destroy us? I know who you are – you are God’s holy messenger!’ Jesus ordered the spirit, ‘Be quiet, and come out of the man!’ ” — Mark 1:23-25

Blacklisted Contractors

The action of the World Bank to blacklist contractors involved in corruptions relative to World Bank funded projects is another black eye in our sagging reputation as one among the most corrupt countries in the world. The attempts of Malacañang and members of the House of Representatives to exonerate the contractors and to cover up the involvement of the First Gentleman in the anomalous transactions is a concrete example of the popular truism of scratching my back as I scratch yours. It is also interesting to note that the world’s financial crisis that started with the fall of the Wall Street also stemmed from a deep-seated corruption due to lack of transparency in the world’s financial district.

Apparently, corruption whether in Wall Street or in our country happens primarily because of the lack of transparency in financial transactions. Layers upon layers of cover up are used to hide the evil deeds. Indeed, the evil spirit of corruption cannot work in the light; it has to work in darkness. Hence, the only way to drive away the evil spirit of corruption is to expose it in the light.

Man with evil spirit

Now, there was an incident in Jesus’ ministry mentioned in the Scriptures when he and his disciples went to Capernaum and visited the synagogue and Jesus began to teach (Mk.1:21-27). The people who heard him were amazed at the way he taught, for he wasn’t like the teachers of the Law; instead, he taught with authority. Then a man with an evil spirit came into the synagogue and screamed, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Are you here to destroy us? I know who you are – you are God’s holy messenger!”

Jesus ordered the evil spirit, “Be quiet, and come out of the man!” The evil spirit shook the man hard, gave a loud scream, and came out of him. The people were all so amazed that they started saying to one another, “What is this? Is it some kind of new teaching? This man has authority to give orders to the evil spirits, and they obey him!”

Corruption as evil spirit

Corruption is an evil spirit that possesses not only human beings, but also institutions, like financial institutions and governments. Persons possessed by the evil spirit of corruption are greedy and selfish. They think only of themselves. They enrich themselves at the expense of others. In the same manner, institutions possessed by the evil spirit of corruption are also selfish and greedy. They think only of their own self-preservation at the expense of the people.

The problem with the evil spirit of corruption is that it knows what is true, what is honest, what is just, righteous and transparent; but it lives and thrives in darkness. And it knows that once it is exposed in the light, it loses its life and existence. It would be driven out – so to speak!

Driving out the evil spirit of corruption

And so, to drive out the evil spirit of corruption whether in persons or in institutions is to expose it in the light. This means to demand transparency and accountability in government and financial transactions. It means raising people’s social consciousness through popular education and information dissemination, and making people take social responsibilities.

One of the reasons why the people were amazed at the way Jesus taught them, unlike that of the teachers of the Law, is because his teachings opened their eyes to the truth and drove out the evil spirits from within them that somehow possessed their lives. Jesus’ teaching, in other words, is not only enlightening; it is also liberating.

Now, the only way for us to set free ourselves and our institutions from the evil spirits of corruption that possessed us is to come to know the truth, for the truth will set us free. #