BEFORE anyone rolls his eyes or snickers over the report that sports champion Manny Pacquiao plans to be a Bible preacher: (a) it won?t be full-time work; (b) it may be one conversation in a gathering of priests; and (c) he may just be an ?ambassador? or poster boy of the Catholic Church in its Bible-reading campaign.
Manny?s been reading the scriptures. After a fight last November with Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez, he said, he dreamed he heard a voice, which he presumed as God?s, that asked: ?Son, why have you been going away from me?? He strayed by his binges in gambling (admitted) and womanizing (downplayed).
Some boxing fans are skeptical but bishops accept his conversion, saying priests may profit from Manny?s experience, perhaps in their own struggle against sin.
His ?sharing? will be interesting but won?t he exploit it as a politician? There?s also his ambition to become president, which will start with a sprint for governor in 2013. And Malaca?ang will be a much tougher race. Bible-preaching may help remove vice-induced blemishes on his public image.
Joy
And Pacquiao must know what he?s getting into. If he will be an evangelist of any sort, he?s bound ?not to contradict by his life? what truths he preaches.
Being celebrity and role model must have cramped his lifestyle. Being all that and a preacher will fetter him much more.
But maybe that?s what he wants: to find joy not in convincing the world he can beat his ring foe to a pulp but by spreading God?s word.
He may need to hang his gloves–and work at how God could help him become president.
