The time to act is now! STOP THE RETURN OF ANOTHER FERDINAND MARCOS TO MALACANANG “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.” (Proverbs 26:11

God of history,
Who Was, Is and Evermore Shall Be
open the eyes of the Filipino people
so that we may rise above nearsightedness
and act for the good of our nation.

 

We pray that in the upcoming election
our kababayan will exercise sound thinking
and overcome any predilection
to repeat painful lessons of the past.

God, we cannot help to pray
that eyes will be opened
to see the TRUTH
of more than $10Billion(US dollars) stolen
from the coffers of the national treasury,
as kickbacks of totalitarian rule,
and through the gouging of budgets
funded by loans on which we still pay.

Help your people to understand
that with their freedom from Martial Law
comes responsibility to remember
the hundreds disappeared, the thousands jailed and killed,
and the tens-of-thousands who rose up in protest
of a dictator family with a full-grown prince.

 

The hollow rhetoric of “moving on”
must ignite within us a righteous indignation
that without repentance, reconciliation will not prosper.
The false claim of boyhood innocence
feeds the fire of our disgust at a young adult
who pilfered and plundered alongside his parents.

 

We pray, O God, for divine intervention
to illuminate the collective memory of our nation
so that we will not be foolish enough to repeat
the dark days of a tyrant family’s rule,
that we will resist blind acceptance
of a re-crafting of Filipino history,
and that the truth of brutal violations of human rights
and dogged-protection of ill-gotten wealth
will be glaringly obvious, despite oil-tongued doublespeak
and treacherous thick-faced denial.

Raise us up as people who believe in a better future
and galvanize our commitment to help our country thrive
in ways that dismantle dynastic legacies
and replace the lording over by elite families
with elected leaders who genuinely intend to
serve and create opportunities for
the citizens of our beloved homeland.

With the memory of all who endured
torture, starvation, tyranny, and death,
we dare to pray—spare us, O God
the terror of another Marcos leadership.
Our hearts cannot bear the threat.
Awaken the Filipino people
so that with their vote
they will overcome the mistakes of the past
and choose a better tomorrow.

How do we love?April 24, 2016, 5th Sunday of Easter

by EDITA T. BURGOS, OCDS

 

artwork by Rev. Edwin Zarate,United Methodist Church ,  and a KASIMBAYAN member

Psalm 145:8-13    Revelation 21:1-5

Acts 14:21-27       John 13:31-35

There was this woman whose son was a victim of enforced disappearance.  Notwithstanding her age, for she was in her late sixties she untiringly searched for her son, knocked on all doors, talking to all who cared to listen, sought both legal and alternative means, taking to the streets, joining rallies, exhausting all peaceful means.  This was her daily life for nine years.

Inevitably she would sometimes find herself in front of those perceived to be perpetrators.   On  these occasions, she knew in her mind that it was asked of her to also love these men.  She would silently tell herself, over and over, ‘they are God’s children too, they are my brothers too, they too are made in the image of my Father.’  But every cell in her body resisted the thought of loving.  There was one incident where the internal conflict was so bad, she developed high fever after talking with the people she believed were the ones who tortured their prisoners.

So how does one love one’s oppressors and follow Jesus’ last commandment  “…love one another.  As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.”? (John 13:34)

Todays readings provide aids (tips if you may) in doing just this… loving those whom you see as unlovable.  In the first reading, Paul with Barnabas and some disciples went to Lystra, Iconium, Pisidia and Pamphylia, to Perge and Atalaia, after which they returned to Antioch.  Before going to these towns, in Antioch some Jews were able to convince the crowd and they stoned Paul and dragged  him outside the city thinking that he was dead.  Why would they the disciples return to a hostile city?  Were they not afraid that they would be stoned again?  They went to these towns to bring Jesus to the Gentiles.  No small amount of courage urged them.  This was courage fired with love. Love for Christ expressed in love for the Gentiles.   And by doing this, God helped them  “… they reported all that God had done with them, and how He had opened to the Gentiles a door of faith.” (Acts 14:26)

Did Christ not die for us while we were yet sinners?  Did Jesus not intercede for us in front of the Father “forgive them for they know not what they are doing.”  And this ‘us’ were the ones who scourged Him, spat on Him, struck him, crowned Him with thorns, and nailed Him to the cross.

In the Psalms, the first two lines(verses 8-9, ) reveal to us important qualities of God’s character and dealings with humans “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness.”(145:8)  And it is not only towards humans that He is compassionate. “He is good to all and compassionate toward all His works.” (145:9)  We respond not only by giving thanks and by giving praise to Him, but by making known to all, His goodness and might.  Graciousness, merciful, slow to anger and kindness, attributes that could also describe human beings, open up a disposition of loving and being loved.  God initiated the relationship creating all out of love, and we reciprocate by caring for and respecting all of His creation, His creatures.  Sometimes, we see part of His creation doing a more perfect job than human beings of praising Him … the flowers bloom and their perfume fills the air, the birds sing in joyful abandon, the sun lights up the world and nourishes the other creatures, the moon and stars adorn the sky.  What perfect way of praising the Creator! They fulfill their destiny on earth.

“To love each other as He (Jesus) loves us.” Here Jesus raises the standard of loving, it is not only ‘loving a neighbour as one loves himself.’  In our experience we have seen how some people abuse themselves, becoming addicts of techie gadgets, consuming harmful substances, being preoccupied with too much materialism, preferring entertainment over serious study of the scriptures.   If this were the standard of loving oneself, then loving others would be damaging rather than helpful.  No wonder, we see children growing up with distorted values which unfortunately they catch from grown ups around them.

A loving relationship with others is the mark of a Christian.  “By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:15)  And there is no qualification of who ‘one another’ is.  Which connotes that we love all, without exception.  Love pervading all would bring about the New Jerusalem, a new heaven and a new earth where  “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Rev 21:4)  Including the tears of mothers looking for their sons.

By following the last commandment of Jesus, we are assured that we shall pass the test when we stand face to face with the One Judge because according to St. John of the Cross “In the evening of life you will be judged on love.”##

How do we love?April 24, 2016, 5th Sunday of Easter

 

 

Mabuting Pastol

 

Juan 10

Psalm 100

Acts 13:14, 43-52

Revelation 7:9, 14-17

 

²⁷ Dinirinig ng aking mga tupa ang aking tinig. Kilala ko sila at sumusunod sila sa akin. ²⁸ Binibigyan ko sila ng buhay na walang hanggan. Hindi sila malilipol magpakailanman. Walang sinumang makakaagaw sa kanila sa aking kamay. ²⁹ Ibinigay sila sa akin ng aking Ama. Siya ay higit na dakila sa lahat. Walang makakaagaw sa kanila mula sa kamay ng aking Ama. ³⁰ Ako at ang Ama ay iisa.

 

Ang Tinig ng Mabuting Pastol

 

Makikita sa kwento ng aralin para sa Linggong ito ang patuloy na pagpapakilala ni Hesus bilang isang Mabuting Pastol. Pinapakinggan at sinusunod ng tupa ang kinikilala nilang pastol. Marami ang maaaring magtangkang pasunurin o ligawin ang tupa papalayo sa kanyang pastol ngunit hindi sila maaaring basta agawin ng sinuman. Bilang Mabuting Pastol, buhay na walang hanggan o kasiya-siya ang pangako ni Hesus sa mga sumusunod sa kanya; hindi sila maaagaw ninuman; hindi sila mapapahamak kailanman.

 

Sa kasalukuyang panahon, sa panahon na marami nang iba’t ibang paraan ng pakikipag-usap at pagpapahayag, marami na rin ang nagtatangkang umagaw ng ating atensyon. Gumagamit sila ng iba’t ibang malikhaing paraan upang ang mga nais nilang sabihin at ipahayag ay mabigyan ng pansin ng mas nakararami.

 

Habang ang Internet at high-tech na mobile devices ay nakakatulong upang mapabilis ang pakikipag-usap natin sa isa’t isa, nagbibigay daan din ito sa napakaraming pagkakaabalahan o distractions. Sa dami ng mga naririnig, napapanood at nababasa natin, mas mahirap nang malaman kung alin sa mga ito ang totoo. Kaya’t marami ang nalilinlang at nadadaya. Para naman sa iba, mas mabuti na lang ang huwag maniwala at magsawalang-kibo para makaiwas sa mas mahirap na sitwasyon.

 

Kahit sa mga pangyayari sa ating lipunan at kasaysayan ay makakarinig tayo ng iba’t ibang opinyon at panig. Magkakaibang damdamin, katuwiran at pagpapaliwanag. Sino ngayon ang ating pakikinggan? Sino ang ating papaniwalaan? Paano natin malalaman kung kaninong tinig at damdamin ang nagpapahayag ng tinig at damdamin gaya ng sa Mabuting Pastol?

 

Ngayong panahon ng halalan, paano natin papakinggan ang mga kandidatong nanliligaw ng ating mga boto? Magaganda halos lahat ng mga pangako. Pangako ng kaunlaran at pagbabago lalo na sa larangan ng ekonomiya o kabuhayan. Pero habang pinapakinggan natin ang mga nagnanais manguna sa atin, hindi ba dapat din nating pakinggan at tuklasin ang tunay na hinaing at kalagayan ng marami sa ating mga kababayan?

 

Pinapakinggan ng mga tupa ang tinig ng pastol hindi dahil sa “convincing” ang tinig o pananalita niya. Hindi rin kailangang gumawa ng kung anu-anong gimmick o jingle ang pastol para makuha ang pansin ng mga tupa. Sinusunod ng tupa ang pastol dahil base sa kanilang karanasan, ang pastol ang tunay na nakatutugon sa kanilang pangangailangan. At hindi rin kailangang i-promote o ibenta ng pastol ang kanyang sarili sa mga tupa kung gusto niyang sundin ng mga ito.

 

Kung dumadaing ang mga tupa, makakasiguro silang may makikinig at tutugon sa kanilang pangangailangan at hindi sila papabayaan. Magugutom at mapapariwara ang mga tupa kung walang pastol na titingin at mag-aaruga sa kanila.

 

Nitong mga nakaraang araw, narinig natin ang daing ng mga magsasaka sa Kidapawan dahil sa nararanasang kagutuman sanhi ng tagtuyot o El Niño. Nanghihingi sila ng saklolo mula sa pamahalaan na may sapat namang kakayahan upang sila ay tulungan at maiahon sa kahirapan. Umasa ang mga magsasaka na may makikinig sa kanilang “pastol” at tutugon sa kanilang pangangailangan. Humihingi ang mga magsasaka ng bigas, ngunit hindi ito ang kanilang tinanggap mula sa pamahalaan. Karahasan, pananakot at pamamaril – ‘yan ang naging tugon ng pamahalaan na inaasaang magmamalasakit gaya ng isang mabuting pastol.

 

Iba-ibang “tinig” din ang naririnig natin mula sa iba’t ibang tao at panig para maipaliwanag ang pag p-protesta ng mga magsasaka na nauwi sa madugong dispersal ng kapulisan sa kanila.

 

Kung si Hesus ay nasa ating kalagitnaan ngayon, papanigan kaya niya ang mga nagugutom, nasaktan at ikinulong na magsasaka? Mananahimik din kaya siya o di kaya pagdududahan ang layunin ng mga lider at organizer ng kilos-protesta? Mamaliitin din kaya niya ang panawagan ng mga nagbarikada?

 

Ang simbahan bilang katawan o kinatawan ni Hesus, aling tinig kaya ang maririnig mula sa kanya ngayon? Sa kabilang banda, makikilala kaya ng mga taong-simbahan ang tinig ni Hesus kung maririnig nila ito mula sa panaghoy ng mga taong nagugutom at naghihirap?##

 

Floyd Castro

United Methodist Church

April 17,2016

The Good Sheperd

 

Reflection by: Jimarie Snap Talingdan Mabanta

Kalipunan ng Kristiyanong Kabataan sa Pilipinas

 Psalm 100

Acts 13:14, 43-52

Revelation 7:9, 14-17

John 10:27-30

My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.

Knowing thy sheep…

In a world where we are pre-occupied with complex things and the need to go with the fast-paced nature of technology, who else are not yet identified with numbers? At the banks, we are recognized by our account number. You go on a queue (to pay bills, line up in a hospital, etc) and you will be served according to your queuing number. At least once in our lives, we need to secure tax identification number, SSS number, insurance numbers, etc. etc. If you are pulled over by a police officer for a traffic violation, s/he is interested in numbers- license number, registration number.  If you start up a business, you need to be registered and secure you registration (or permit) number. In the youth organization where I belong, we impress to each member that that their identification numbers are special, because it is unique and it is theirs in perpetuity. Too many numbers! And these are our identifications. These will make us recognized by institutions, by the state and other instruments.

This is how we are recognized now. Yet numbers are too impersonal. Isn’t it nice when someone remembers your name rather than your assigned number?

This particular text teaches us that Jesus speaks of words that give us that kind of warm feeling that we have when someone cares for us, interested in what is happening in our lives. Jesus tells us about the very personal and intimate relationship that he has with us, his people, ‘My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.

In a preceding text before these, Jesus said, ‘I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me. Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep’ (14-15).

Jesus is describing his kind of relationship with us- that is intimate and close. A kind of relationship that knows, recognizes and feels. Like a shepherd that would know if his sheep are hungry, in pain, or suffering from sickness.

 

How is it to be a Good Sheperd and to Challenge to us

 

Jesus draws a sharp contrast between a good shepherd  and a false shepherd, whom he calls thieves and robbers (10:1). I would boldly claim that Jesus paints the picture in John 10 against the backdrop of Ezequiel 34, where the Lord castigates the religious leaders of Israel for being self-centered, greedy shepherds who used the flock for their own comfort and gain, but failed to care tenderly for the hurting.

 

He went on describing how is it to be a good shepherd when he said,

 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

I am the good sheped. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep’.

(10:10-11)

 

 

The image of the Good Sheperd is one of love, care, protection, intimacy and closeness.

 

Jesus is calling us to be good shepherds too, to our own flocks! And it requires a relationship that is personal and intimate. A shepherd that does not only calls out the sheep by numbers, but by their individual names. A shepherd that hears the cries of his/her sheep and knows what is best for them. with this, I want to examine the ‘sheperding’ that our government leaders are taking to us, people. The poor people are asking for the provision of basic services and decent housing. And the government give them a few hundreds or thousand through the Conditional Cash Transfer program for a month for their needs. After several terms, the statistics of those living below the poverty line has not been reduced. In fact, it is worsening. Apparently, the government program to reduce poverty is not the real answer. This is what happens when you do not know your sheep well and you refuse to listen to their cry. Few days ago, some farmers in Kidapawan City where massacred as they stage a protest to demand for food. They were killed by the police deployed in the area. The sheep are asking for food, but the false shepherd gave them bullets instead.

 

Listening and hearing the cry of your sheep is what Jesus required of us to be a good shepherd.

 

Lastly, Jesus is teaching another important, and for me, the highest form of shepherding- ‘The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep’ (10:11).

 

How many of us are willing to lay down our life for our sheep? I am optimistic there are still. From the rank of the church people, there are several ordained priests and pastors whose lives have been under threat, or worst taken away, just because of genuinely and intimately serving their flock. this fact will not make us afraid, or will close our hearts and ears to the needs of our flock, our people. we shall not retreat in serving them.

 

Jesus, the Good Sheperd is encouraging us to be like him. And we shall not say no to his challenge.##

 

Artwork: Good Shepherd
Watanabe Sadao 1914 – 1996
Japanese
http://bowdencollections.com/Jesus-Shepherd/jesus-shepherd.html