February 26, 2017 Transfiguration Sunday *Spiritual Exercise.

Psalm 81:3-8, 10-11
Deuteronomy 5:12-15
2Corinthians 4:6-11
Matthew 7:21-27
Psalm 81:3-8, 10-11

Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon,
and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival;
4 this is a decree for Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
5 When God went out against Egypt,
he established it as a statute for Joseph.
I heard an unknown voice say:
6 “I removed the burden from their shoulders;
their hands were set free from the basket.
7 In your distress you called and I rescued you,
I answered you out of a thundercloud;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.[a]
8 Hear me, my people, and I will warn you—
if you would only listen to me, Israel!
I am the LORD your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.
11 “But my people would not listen to me;
Israel would not submit to me.

The text reminds us of how God cared and loved the people of Israel by delivering them from Egypt, from slavery and oppression. It recounts how the Lord gave the people freedom from all of their societal, physical, and emotional burdens. God was there when the people needed Him. But aside from the wonderful saving acts of God, there seems to be a problem. The Israelites seemed to have forgotten how God worked through their lives and seemed to have neglected to listen to God’s voice. They have forgotten who God is in their lives.

The poverty, unemployment, corruption, and injustices that we experience in our society today are similar to what the Israelites had before. God is not in favor of tyranny and injustices since the beginning of time. We need to listen and submit to God’s voice and to what he is telling us to do just like what the text says. We can be instruments of God’s justice and peace. We can work with God to eliminate the burdens of society.

God is reminding to trust and rely on him that he can save us from all of our burdens. God is telling us that he delivered the Israelites from oppression and he can also do it to us. God is calling us to listen to him and work with him for the freedom, justice and peace of our nation.

Deuteronomy 5:12-15

“Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.
Work. We all work to make a living. We work for a specific time and day. Sometimes our work compels us to go beyond that specific time and day just to get the work done. I work in the academe and hold administrative and teaching responsibilities. I hold lecture classes twelve hours a week and I spend the rest of my time doing reports, monitoring students, answering emails, dealing on student and faculty concerns, etc. And I am expected and paid to work for only eight hours a day, forty five hours a week where lunch break is not being paid. Even when I am about to go home, pressing concerns rise up which requires me to extend my time. I feel very tired and exhausted at the end of each week. Most of all, I feel exploited. I work alone but the bulk of work is for three persons. I always look forward to Saturdays and Sundays because I really need rest.

As I ponder on with my work life, I think of those people who experience the same like me but receive a salary much lower than mine. I think of those children who go up the mountains to get some wood which is much bigger and heavier than them and sell it in exchange of a small amount of money. I think of those farmers who do all the work but brings home nothing for their family. They are more exploited, abused, and oppressed and need Sabbath the most. They do not just need physical and emotional rest, they need to put a stop to the unjust things going on with their lives.

The Sabbath day is a command from God to all people. It should be observed and practiced by all. It is the day where our pain from labor, oppression, exploitation and slavery ends. As Christians, let us all work and struggle so that the Sabbath be observed, practiced, and experienced by all.
2 Corinthians 4:6-11

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.
Christ empowers us. The text tells us that everything that we are and we have is from God through Jesus Christ. We are called to bring forth light in to this world. A world darkened by fear, war, and hunger. We are called to bring the light of Christ to all the dark corners of the world – the true manifestation of being a disciple of Christ. Sharing and spreading the light of Christ is full of struggles and hardships, but we shall not be devoured. The text reminds us that we shall never be crushed and destroyed with all of the struggles. We shall endure because Christ empowers us.

The power of the resurrected Christ is must continuously be revealed in us so that might become true bearers of Christ’s light in this world. The text speaks of carrying the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in us. It is bringing Christ to those who need Christ the most. It is bringing the life and light brought about by Christ to those who need it the most. Those who are in despair and victims of war of aggression, they need Christ, they need a savior.

We are reminded, as disciples of Jesus Christ, that we are empowered to carry on with our mission. We are called to work hard until the whole world is liberated from all forms of struggles and despair. We shall endure and not be crushed because Christ empowers us.

Matthew 7:21-27

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
We always talk about love, compassion, and kindness in church. We always study and discuss ways on how to be a true follower and disciple of Christ, and feed ourselves with spiritual and heavenly food. But haven’t we over fed ourselves and became spiritually obese or overweight? Most churches nowadays focus more on spiritual feeding and work of piety and lack the spiritual exercise of showing mercy and justice. On the other hand, I do admire those who go out of the four corners of their church to practice what they have learned inside it, reaching communities and helping them with their struggles.

The illustration in the text clearly defines what danger and harm of not practicing the Words of God. The house poorly built shall eventually be destroyed. Like our physical body, our spiritual needs a regular exercise so that it would be strong. Healing a broken society, caring for the lost, and feeding the hungry can be a good spiritual exercise.

Christian discipleship is not limited to studying the Bible and the teachings of Christ, but putting it in to practice so that Christ may be known throughout the whole world.##
Tomas Jerico(TJ) Manares Aliwalas, United Methodist Church
Las Pinas City

 

Photo  grab from: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/341569952964440009/

February 19, 2017, 7th Sunday of Ordinary Time, 7th Sunday after Epiphany* A Call for Radical Love…

 

First Reading: Lev. 19:1-2.17-18

Psalm 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12-13

Second Reading: 1 Cor. 3: 16-23

Gospel: Mt. 5: 38-48

 

It is with deep sorrow that we are witnessing the growing callousness and insensitivity of people over the escalating number of deaths related to the government’s war on drugs. More alarming is the attitude of many who applaud the killings justifying the need to end criminality in the society. Legislative body is also pushing for death penalty as punishment for crimes committed. To date, there are more than 7,000+ dead people.  It is a daunting reality that human life nowadays seems to be regarded as if it is a disposable commodity.  But life is both a precious gift and an immense responsibility we owe to God alone. Those who were killed are not just mere numbers or statistics, they are humans  with human rights  and deserving of God’s indiscriminate and life-giving love just as the sun shines on all the inhabitants on the earth. The “hate-approach”  like “war against drugs”  does not sit well with redemptive and liberating  love and justice.    Let the “Spirit of God dwells”  through social justice approach.
Today, in the midst of hatred, animosity, indifference and many dehumanizing situations and seeming hopelessness in our society, we, as women and men of faith are challenged to embrace and spread God’s inclusive love for all, and continue Jesus’ compassionate mission. This entails sensitivity to reality, humility and courage to show mercy and compassion, and take a stand for the most vulnerable, the persecuted, the marginalized and the oppressed.  We keep in mind that God’s justice is tempered by God’s love for all people, sinners or saints. “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved), raised up in Christ Jesus, that in ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:4-7. Jesus Christ offered his own life for us sinners, to redeem and give us a new future.

 

May the love of Jesus impel us to get out of our boxes, to leave our comfort zones, to deepen our social consciousness and communion with others — they may be addicted people , criminals, prostituted women and men, street families, beggars or our enemies or people who hurt us.  It is our mission as followers of Christ to reach out for them and find gentle ways to open their hearts to God’s loving action through us.  As we celebrate Love Month this February, let us rise up for life and love as Jesus did on the cross.##

JEFF VITO

College of the Holy Spirit

Manila

 

photo grab from:http://biblestudyoutlines.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/european_kids.jpg

February 12, 2017, 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time, 6th Sunday after Epiphany OF LAW AND JUSTICE

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

 

Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34

Sirach 15:15-20

1Corinthians 2:6-10

Matthew 5:17-37 Or  Matthew 5:20-22, 27-28, 33-34, 37

 

INTRODUCTION

 Today’s lectionary teaches us important themes like obeying, fulfilling, teaching, interpreting and proclaiming the law. Law comes from the Hebrew word “Torah” which does not only pertain to the Ten Commandments, but to the whole way of Israelites’ life and of their covenant relationship with God.

This message points to God’s law as just and pro-creation while laws crafted by the powers-that-be are laws favoring their rank to the disadvantage of the most vulnerable poor and powerless people. Hence, the need to sustain in  educating the people on the justness of God’s law and empower people to work for pro-people laws and against anti-people laws.

LAWS FOR PEOPLE’S BENEFIT

I was made to believe that all laws are beneficial to humankind and the rest of God’s creation, but it’s clear to me now that today not all laws are beneficial to people. Laws should ensure the exaction of justice and the experience of harmonious relationship among people. Or none at all.

I recall Jesus warning and criticizing the teachers of the law and the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.” (Matthew 23:23-24)

Jesus’ encounters with the lawyers and teachers of the law in his ministry were encounters of doing justice to the law which was interpreted to the latter’s advantage. And true enough, important matters of the law are justice, mercy and faithfulness.  Jesus’ words based on Gospel according to Matthew has this to say, I would agree, to illustrate Jesus’ attitude and view of the law, “For I assure you, that unless your justice exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the heavenly kingdom.” (Matt 5:20)

Dr. Edward W. Younkins describes in general the purpose of the law, “The purpose of law is to preserve freedom and moral agency.” Lo and behold, much injustices were committed during dark  years the Martial Law,  resulting to the toppling down of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos through the EDSA People Power. Therefore, the Martial Law did not serve the purpose of exacting justice and still therefore an affront to peace and harmony among people.

What about the disgust of the indigenous people relative to state law IPRA (Indigenous People’s Rights Act)? Leaders attest the act looks good in paper but in reality, it does not. Bulatlat reports:

The IPRA allowed for the creation of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the government agency responsible for implementing the provisions of the IPRA. Since its inception, however, the NCIP, “rather than stand for the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples, has acted more for the benefit of the government and big businesses,” Malayao said.

What about state law on mining, whose needs and welfare does it serve?

The United Church of Christ in the Philippines issued a statement clarifying pertinent issues and concerns and the Church’s stance and commitment on large scale mining. In parts, it vividly states:

“We are so burdened by the fact that our state’s laws and policies on mining are catering to and facilitating the greed of the giant foreign mining corporations. For instance, Republic Act 7942 (Philippine Mining Act of 1995) which mandates the liberalization of the mining industry in the Philippines allows a single foreign mining corporation with an approved Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) to mine a maximum of 81, 000 hectares of land (Sec. 3b, sec.34) for a period of 25 years, renewable for another 25 years (Sec. 38). Said law further provides to a FTAA holder the right to cut and use trees within its area of operation (Sec. 72), to use water (Sec. 73), to possess explosives (Sec. 74) and to eject communities if they hamper mining operations (Sec. 75). Moreover, said law also grants the same the right to enter in private lands and concession areas for mining (Sec. 76); and gives many incentives such as 5 years’ tax holiday, the right to bring home 100% profit, 100% control of minerals, and confidentiality of mining documents including financial statements.”

It is terribly saddening to realize that many of the law makers today who enjoy much the comforts of the position as senators and congress people craft anti-people laws serving the interests and caprices of the imperialists and the foreign monopoly capitalists and their greediness for power and wealth. These people do not have the “wisdom” so to speak. For biblical wisdom means the discernment and the awareness to exact justice among people. This, I would like to believe, is the essence of Paul’s words in I Corinthians 2:6-8 when he says, “We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:6-8)

 

WORKING FOR PRO-PEOPLE LAWS

 To work for pro-people laws means working against anti-people laws. Working for pro-people laws means interpreting the laws in the eyes of those victims of injustice and looking at people as important than laws.  A good number of lawyers today distort truth with their familiarity, if not genius, of the law for money’s sake. As a result, countless of people have been imprisoned for crimes they have never committed.

Jesus demonstrated his view of people being important than law when he spoke, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27, NLT)

A beautiful commentary on Matthew 5 has this to say about Jesus and the Torah. It discusses, “It is significant, however, that Jesus did not see the details of the Torah as absolute and eternal. They would apply only until everything comes about.  In Matthew’s mind, that accomplishment would happen at the moment of Jesus’ death, when the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom [27:51]. The final key to the interpretation of Torah would be the new covenantal relationship between God and humankind brought about by Jesus’ death and resurrection [26:28], and the profound and mysterious trust and intimacy to which it gave rise.” (http://johnmckinnon.org/matthew5v17-37)

I understand Jesus giving himself for the fulfillment of the Torah, ““Do not think that I have come to annul the law or the prophets. I have come not to annul but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17)

CONCLUSION

The aforementioned statements imply readiness to offer our very lives to obey and fulfill God’s law and work for implementation of pro-people laws. We do so to be able to contribute to the realization of a just and compassionate social order in Philippine society. The psalmist describes the blessedness of those who fulfill and obey the law of the Lord. It says in Psalms 119:1-2:

 

Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the Lord.
Blessed are those who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart….

 

 

Rev. Nonie Aviso, UCCP

 

 

 

Responsibility

 

 

 

 

6^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

February 12, 2017, 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time, 6th Sunday after Epiphany

 

Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34

Sirach 15:15-20

1Corinthians 2:6-10

Matthew 5:17-37 Or  Matthew 5:20-22, 27-28, 33-34, 37

 

 

Responsibility.  That is what I thought to be , a theme for our reading  this 6^th Sunday in ordinary time. The term responsibility  means a state or fact of being accountable   or duty-bound accountability.

 

Emmanuel Levinas,  known for his philosophy of the Face, has an interesting    articulation.  He is  a Jew philosopher  who  experienced several wars during his lifetime. His race  is much hated and discriminated by the dominating power of Hitler .  His main philosophy of  “the Face” is rooted in the identity to the Cartesian Meditation that has the idea of the Infinity or the idea of God. Levinas linked every face we see in our brothers and sisters as the concrete and visible face of God. And as a response to the plea of the face, Levinas also speaks about the infinite responsibility with the other person through the plea and presence of that very face.

 

My personal take is that the face Levinas is speaking of is  making a command   “Thou Shall not Kill!” . This means,  we have this ethical relation to one another, this very responsibility is the key towards common and peaceful co-existence. In line with our readings for this Sunday, the main point of the Gospel is all about “commandments”.

 

We know that the Decalogue or the Ten commandments are meant to guide God’s people towards common love for God and for the people.

 

Jesus as he said in the Gospel “I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. Amen I say to you until heaven and earth passed away, not the smallest letter of the smallest part of the letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.” This is the very essence of the word of God; Jesus who became the concrete face of the Father whom God sent forth to proclaim his Kingdom here on earth.

 

This speaks the Kingdom of God is tangible.. Jesus also reviewed the parts of the Decalogue that represents our relationship with others and with God. “Thou shall not kill, thou shall not commit adultery and many more…” these are the very words that are very relevant in our contemporary time. “Thou shall not kill” is the commandment of God that has its concrete meaning,. In the  Gospel Jesus , killing  does not only   speak about physical body but also  our relationship with our neighbour.

 

As we watch our Television   we can see that there are a lot of news about killings. Killings that send message about the  banality of life: “that life is Cheap!

 

 

. “Patayin Kita Dyan!” are the very words we can hear from the man sitting in power. . This speaks that he’s the one who can decide on the fate of one’s life. Many people are killed “allegedly “   because of their   involvement  to the illegal drugs.. But  how those  who  changed their lives and tried to  start a life anew  and yet killed.  I have read in the newspaper  that the police give Php. 5,000.00 to the gunmen every time they killed an alleged drug user.

 

Jesus, came here on earth to bring glad tidings to the poor, liberty to the captives and the fullness of life. The challenge for this Sunday is what is our response to the call of our poor brothers and sisters? what is the meaning of my life? What is the challenge of Christ that moves my motivation towards my ethical relationship with the brothers and sisters?

Christ only gave the two greatest commandments that are beneficial to live our relation and responsibility in our life: Love the Lord with all you heart, with all your soul and with all your might and Love your neighbour as you love yourself.  ##

 

Bro. Mark Bennett Gonzales, CsSR

Reflections by Redemptorist Postulant Mark Bennett Gonzales

Mag-Ingat sa Pampaalsa

Mateo 16:5-13

Sabi ni Hesus, mag-ingat raw sa “pampaalsa ng mga Fariseo at mga Saduseo”. Ayon sa aralin, hindi raw pampaalsa ng tinapay ang tinutukoy ni Hesus kundi ang mga “aral ng mga Fariseo at mga Saduseo”.

Bilang mga Hudyo, kinagisnan ng mga alagad ang mga katuruang nakasulat sa Kautusan at mga Propeta. Bukod sa mahigpit ang mga turong ito hindi madaling maunawaan at sundin ang mga dine-demand ng Kautusan. Eksperto ang mga Fariseo at Saduseo sa mga Kautusan at sila ang pangunahing inaasahang magpapaliwanag at mangangaral ng mga sinasabi nito. Maaari nating sabihin na mataas ang tingin ng pangkaraniwang Hudyo sa mga Fariseo at Saduseo dahil mahalaga sa kanila ang pagkaunawa at pagsunod sa mga Kautusan. Mahalaga ang papel nila sa pananampalataya at buhay ng bawat Hudyo.

 

Hindi mahihirapan ang mga Kristiyanong unawain ang respetong ibinibigay ng mga Hudyo sa mga nagtuturo o authority ng kanilang pananampalataya dahil kahit ngayon, mataas ang paggalang ng mga mananampalataya sa mga manggagawa o taong-simbahan. Kahit sa labas ng mga religious institutions, iginagalang ng mga tao ang mga nagtuturo at nagbibigay ng kaliwanagan sa kanila. Kasama diyan ang mga guro sa paaralan; mga lider sa loob ng mga tanggapan at pagawaan; mga media personalities na pinaghuhugutan ng mga komentaryo o opinyon sa mga pangyayari sa paligid at syempre pa; ang ating mga magulang.

Ngunit paano kung sa gitna ng respeto natin sa mga taong inaasahan at pinagkakatiwalaan natin ay bibigyan tayo ng atas ni Hesus na mag-ingat sa mga aral na nagmumula sa kanila? Paano natin malalaman o matutuklasan kung ano ang mga aral na tinutukoy ni Hesus? Paano natin susundin si Hesus?

Sa palagay ko kapag kumakain ng tinapay, imposibleng maiwasan na hindi makain ang pampaalsa nito – pwera na lang kung hindi mo kakainin ang buong tinapay. Kahit hindi pa luto ang tinapay, basta naihalo na ang pampaalsa sa masa (dough) ay hindi na maaaring tanggalin ito. Ganyan din marahil sa mga aral na kinagisnan at naging bahagi na ng pagkatao natin. Kung “nakahalo” na sa ating kultura ang mga aral na hindi akma sa turo ni Hesus, hindi magiging madali ang makita at talikuran ang mga ito.

Makakatulong marahil ang paraan ng pagwawastong ginawa ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad habang sinusubukan nilang unawain ang kanyang atas. Tinapay ang una nilang naisip, dahil doon nga naman madalas ginagamit ang pampaalsa at maaari rin silang magutom sa kabilang ibayo dahil hindi sila nakapag baon nito. Pero inasahan ni Hesus na maiigpawan na sana ng mga alagad ang pagbibigay ng focus sa tinapay bilang isang major concern dahil naging saksi sila kung paano pinakain ni Hesus ang limang libong tao. Bilang mga mananampalataya, naging saksi din tayo sa mga turo at gawa ni Hesus sa pamamagitan ng Mabuting Balita o Biblia.

Kaya sa pamamagitan ng mga turo o gawa ni Hesus, halimbawa, ay maaari nating tanungin kung bakit sa ating mga paaralan ay sobra-sobra ang pagsisikap na ginagawa ng marami para maging number one, top notcher o makakuha ng kung anu-anong recognition habang ang panawagan naman ni Hesus ay ang maging huli kung nais mauna at ang paglilingkod sa pamumuno (servant leadership). Anu-ano ang mga itinuturing natin na mga “blessings” o pagpapala – ang mga materyal (at mamahalin) na bagay ba o ang mga tiniyak ni Hesus na tatanggapin ng mga dukha sa espiritu, nahahapis, maaamo, at nagugutom at nauuhaw sa katuwiran? Natutuwa kaya tayo sa mga pamamaslang na nagaganap sa ngalan ng War on Drugs ng pamahalaan o binibigyan natin ng halaga ang buhay kahit na ng ating mga kaaway gaya ng itinuro ni Hesus sa pamamagitan ng kwento ng Good Samaritan?

Kung imposibleng alisin ang pampaalsa sa tinapay, posible kayang mahanap at ma-unlearn ang mga turong naglalayo sa atin upang maranasan ang buhay na kasiya-siya bilang isang lipunan? Kung kinakailangang hindi natin kainin ang buong tinapay para maiwasan ang pampaalsang inilagay dito, baka kailangan din nating palitan o hamunin ang mga struktura at sistemang nagdadala sa atin papalayo sa kalooban ng Diyos? Paano natin gagawin ito kung tayo mismo ay nakaugnay sa mga sistemang ito?

Ah, pawang mahirap! Mahirap ngunit may pag-asa. May pag-asa dahil sa pangako ni Hesus na gagabayan tayo ng Banal na Diwa sa ating paglalakbay.##

 

Floyd Castro,United Methodist Church