April 30, 2017, 3rd Sunday of Easter *PATULOY NA PAGLALAKBAY, PAGKILOS AT PAKIKIBAKA

Awit16: 1-2, 5, 7-11

Mga Gawa  2:14, 22-28

1 Pedro  1:17-21

Lukas 24:13-35

 Pagkatapos ng mapagbunying pagdiriwang ng buong kristiyanong komunidad sa pasko ng muling pagkabuhay ni Kristo, nanatili ang mapanghamong mensahe nito. Ang diwa ng muli Niyang pagkabuhay ay nangangahulugan ng patuloy na paglalakbay, pagkilos at pakikibaka tungo sa pagsasakatuparan sa buhay na ganap at kasiya-siya para sa lahat.

Sa maraming mga pagkakataon, tayo ay natali lamang sa pag-alala sa buhay, pasakit, kamatayan at muli Niyang pagkabuhay ngunit palagi nating nakaligtaan ang napakamahalagang hamon sa atin sa kabila ng lahat ng ito. Hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan ang tatlong mga salita na binanggit ni Rev. Revelation Velunta hinggil sa buhay at ministeryo ni Kristo. Sabi nya, “itong tatlo ay nananatili: Pagkilos (Movement), Execution (Pagpatay/Pagkitil ng Buhay), at Continuation (Pagpapatuloy). Ngunit ang pinakamahalaga nitong tatlo ay ang Pagpapatuloy.” Ito ay isang pagpapatunay na wala ng anumang bonggang pagidiriwang ang hihigit pa at papalit sa ating pagtangan at pagpapatuloy sa mga adhikain na nasimulan ni Kristo kahit buhay man ang ialay kung kinakailangan.

Ang ebanghelyo ni Lukas ay nagpapahayag sa masalimoot na karanasan ng mga tagasunod kay Jesus sa mga panahong iyon. Nagiging saksi sila sa kasiyahan, kaguluhan, karahasan at kamatayan. Ngunit ang nakakalito sa mga alagad lalong-lalo na sa dalawa na nabanggit sa texto ay ang posibilidad ng muling pagkabuhay ng kanilang kinikilalang lider martir. Kaya sa kanilang paglalakbay patungong Emaus na may labing-isang kilometro ang layo mula sa Jerusalem, ito ang nilalaman ng kanilang pag-uusap. Ngunit habang silay nag-uusap, lumapit at nakisabay sa kanila si Jesus na hindi nila nakilala. Ibinahagi ng mga alagad ang kanilang mataas na pagkilala kay Jesus na magpapalaya sa kanila sa Israel.  Sa kabila ng kalungkutan at pagkakalito, ay binigyan nila ng pansin si Jesus. Niyaya nila Siya na sasama sa kanila na maghapunan at doon nila napatunayan na Siya nga si Jesus ng dumampot Siya ng tinapay at nagpapasalamat pagkatapos pinagpira-piraso iyon at ibinigay sa kanila. Noon nila nakilala si Jesus ngunit Siya ay biglang nawala.

Mga kapatid, ang sama-samang paglalakbay at pagbabahagian ng kung anong meron sila sa pagkakataong iyon kasama si Jesus, kahit siya man ay biglang nawala, ay nag-iiwan sa kanila ng alab ng puso na ibahagi ang kanilang karanasan pabalik sa Jerusalem. Sa ganoon ding diwa tayo na mga nananampalataya sa buhay na Kristo na patuloy na kumikilos sa iba’t-ibang yugto ng kasaysayan ay hinahamon na panghawakan at tanganan ang ibayong alab ng puso na handang magpapatuloy sa mga nasimulang gawain ni Jesus. Ito ang natatanging tunguhin sa kanyang pagsasakatawang tao, isinilang sa mga magulang na nagmula sa batayang sektor ng lipunan na kanilang kinabibilangan at naglingkod sa mga aba at isinasantabi ng mga nasa pamunuan sa panahong iyon. Siya rin ay masugid na nagsusulong sa mga katuruan na tunay na nagpapahalaga sa payak at makatarungang pamumuhay, nanggagamot, nagpapakain sa mga nagugutom, kumakalinga sa mga hindi pinapahalagahan, humahamon sa mga ipokrito at mga mapagsamantalang pamunuan. Nagiging banta sa namumuno ng imperyo, sinampahan ng mga gawa-gawang kasi, sinakit, hinatulan ng kamatayan, pinatay ngunit nabuhayng muli.

Gaya kay Kristo, marami na ring mga nag-alay ng kanilang mga buhay sa gitna ng matapat na pagpapatuloy sa nasimulang adhikain ni Jesus. Ito rin ang patuloy na hamon sa bawat isa sa atin, ang handang makipaglakbay kasama ang mga aba at maralita ng kasalukuyang lipunan na ating ginagalawan, patuloy na kikilos at makibaka upang maisulong ang batayang karapatan ng mga mamamayang inaalipin at pinagsamantalahan ng kasalukuyang imperyo at mga makapangyarihan sa sarili nating bayan.

Handa ba tayong sundan ang mga yapak ni Kristo? Mula sa ating mga relatibong komportableng mga tahanan, simbahan at institusyon na pinaglilingkuran, patuloy ang panawagan sa buhay na Kristo na tayo ay tutungo sa iba’ t ibang Emaus ng ating lipunan-mga bulnerableng komunidad upang kasama nila sa kanilang paglalakbay, pagkilos at pakikibaka upang sama-sama nating makamit ang makatarungang kapayapaan na kung saan ang kaganapan ng buhay ay mararanasan na ng nakakarami at hindi lamang sa iilan. Sulong at padayon hanggang sa tagumpay!##

 

Rev. Irma M. Balaba

NCCP-CUER (Asst. Program Secretary)

UCCP-Faith Bible Church (Administrative Pastor)

 

Larawang kinuha mula sa https://0lem.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/emmaus-road/

April 23, 2017 2nd Sunday of Easter*Thoughts On Discipleship – Not Your Usual Calling

April 23, 2017

2^nd Sunday of Easter

Readings:

Psalm 118: 2-4, 13-15, 22-24

Acts 2:42-47

1 Pet 1: 3-9

John 20:19-31

 

Thoughts On Discipleship – Not Your Usual Calling

 

Happy Easter everyone!  Be it a feast of gastronomic perfection or a collection of dishes delightfully re-created (bottled sardines, canned sardines, smoked sardines, etc.sardines! )  from the leftovers of the Lenten season, Easter is always a good reason to celebrate.

 

In retrospect, one of the best things that ever happened to me during the season of Lent was to be invited to write, the first ever, for this series of reflections called “Baliktanaw”.  For one, I get to focus on the Season of Easter since my body-mind-heartspirit becomes preoccupied with the Word of God.  And Sunday’s reflection becomes so much a part of my housechores – you know, clean, read, cook, read, water the plants, read, then write-write-write!

 

“Baliktanaw” is a wonderful word.  I love investigating the root, origins and meanings of words. Be it English or Tagalog, it was a love affair in my younger years. I remember keeping a collection of words I discover for the first time in a book I read and wrote down each of them, keeping an interesting assemblage which I used in some articles I wrote for our grade school paper.   Going back to “baliktanaw”…

 

Literally, it means  ‘view again’ or ‘review’ or ‘looking back’.  But as I read between the letters, and engaged myself with the word (I told you it’s a love affair), I found  deeper and more savory meanings of the word.  Baliktanaw is to ‘gaze’ …  and to gaze longer’.  Baliktanaw connotes ‘deep thinking’.  Baliktanaw can mean ‘reflection’.  Baliktanaw is to see as far as you can see, as deep as you can go.  Baliktanaw is to return to the origins and to engage my heartspirit in gazing at the scenes of life’s joys and pains.  I can go on and on and on.  Which brings me to the invitation that Baliktanaw is.  An invitation to engage, to interact with.  An invitation to love The Word.

 

The Word of God is a promise.  God promised in the Old Testament, that He would send His Son to save the world, to give eternal life.  But that’s not that simple.  The promise was kept.  It took hundreds of years “to prepare the way in the wilderness”.  It took births and deaths and wars, kings, queens and prophets, it took many wonders in nature for God’s expression of His presence in the lives of the Israelites.  It was like God was telling them, “Hey look, just enjoy all these wonders first and soon, very soon, I’ll show you and give you the best Gift of all!”  In reading the Word of God, we can treat it like a novel or any other book, but there are certain ways or approaches in order to understand its meanings.

 

Three Parts of a Whole

Scripture reflection sometimes calls us to look at three parts of a whole in a story.  The passage may look like it is independent, but actually is dependent on a previous story, and on a story after the Gospel passage we are treating.  See?  Three parts of a whole.   In today’s Gospel, we deal with John 20:19-31, but in order to understand its meaning and capture the message, we look at the previous story and the next story after. I love doing this.  I will attempt to share with you the use of a literary device called ‘inclusio’ , which purpose is quite structural and may be that to alert the reader to a particular theme.

Ready for the mini-study?

 

The story before vv. 19-31 , where we see Jesus appears to Mary of Magdala, is set in the outer area, the external environment, the tomb, the cemetery.  Remember this is an encounter.  Here is where Jesus says “Do not be afraid” And also where Mary recognizes Jesus’ voice.  Remember this…“My sheep hear my voice”?  We find it also in John chapter 10, verse 27.  This validates Mary Magdalene as a “follower”, a true disciple of Jesus.  This opens our theme of “Discipleship”…

 

The main passages we are treating, vv. 19-31, our study verses,  are “locked in” the middle of these two stories that act as a pair of book ends.  It connotes the “inner”, “within”, “Internal”.  Here is where Jesus says “peace be with you” to the apostles who were “locked inside the room”.  They may have been very much afraid and locked themselves inside the room  because of fear.  Again an encounter.

 

After saying “Do not be afraid”, Jesus emphasizes here that there really is no need of fear because if you have peace, particularly if you make peace with yourself, you are doing internal work which is necessary for discipleship. Reflection, meditation are tools to get to know God and oneself.  These tools may lead us to be disturbed.  Hence discipleship requires taking the risk of being disturbed by social issues in society, social ills that have been plaguing the people we serve.

 

When Jesus breathed on them, the Ruah of God in creation is now the Ruah of forgiveness.  Jesus now talks of forgiving one another (Jn 20:23). Forgiveness that requires preparing the ground for sowing its seeds,  knowing the circumstances, and understanding yourself and the other. Remember, before we learned forgiveness, it took hundreds of years before it became the subject of Jesus’ teaching and finally sealing it in the Resurrection.  Then appears the figure of Thomas the doubter, to whom Jesus says “ Happy are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” (v. 29b)  Faith seals the Love God is for us.

 

When we read the third part of the whole, we see again an outer story taking place by a lake.  Jesus says “Follow me!” (Jn 21:19)  Discipleship is quite expressive here. When we read further, we find an active resurrected Jesus.

 

Of Soul Work, Poverty, and Being a True Disciple

 

In the dynamic of discipleship, forgiveness has happened on the cross. Now forgiveness is sealed in the Resurrection.

 

Inner work, soul work, is always necessary for discipleship.  The discipline of “looking into”, “looking within”, moment by moment is called of us to be true followers of Christ.  I remember, in reference to mindfulness in Benedict’s “listen with the ear of your heart” (Prologue, Rule of Benedict).

 

In the other readings we still read other characteristics of a true disciple, a follower of Christ.  Psalm 118: 22 and ff, alludes to  the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone, the most important foundation of a structure.  As a disciple, if we are to follow Christ, it is not a life of a bed of roses.  We are to be ready to be rejected , despised, scorned before being able to build a firm foundation for Christian life.  God calls us to be poor in order to be a follower of the Christ.  In being humbled, we are lowly, we have nothing and therefore we depend on God alone.  This is one of the marks of a true disciple.  This is then validated by Peter in his letter, 1 Pet 2:4 and ff.

 

Disciples as Witnesses

 

In Acts, The disciples become witnesses as they form households, and eventually communities.  They become witnesses to a life of simplicity, sharing all their resources as against keeping for themselves the best things, consuming more than enough, hoarding, etc.

 

The first Christian community showed the three signs of a Christian life:  1) Teaching  2) sharing-common life 3) Partaking/ Thanksgiving.

 

Their fear was transformed into  many signs and wonders which the disciples performed.

 

The Word Made Flesh

 

To relish reading literature is one of the many luxuries I love.  Of course that is,  I have to make time for this reading escapade.  But to relish as I have said earlier is to engage myself in savoring every morsel of the words.  The Word of God is indeed beautiful literary material.  But more than a literary material, its transforming power is beyond human imagination.  To live as  a Christian, is a call to live a life of disturbing awareness, dangerous memory and permanent liminality. Discipleship is not a status to gain a sense of entitlement but a life of living on the ground, in the fringes of society, so that the feet may get muddy as the poor does.  We are called to live this life, but not all respond to this call.  The Word in today’s world has become lost in the noise of everyday busyness, caught in the haze of pollution and absent in the heart of consumerism. There is a need for this Word to become flesh again.  And the first step is to do Baliktanaw.  To see as far as you can see, as deep as you can go.  ##

 

 

Ms. Weena  Salvador Meily

Roman Catholic

Quezon City, Philippines

 

Photo grab fromhttp://davidewart.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8345310da69e201a3fd0f553f970b-popup

 

 

April 16, 2017, EASTER/ Resurrection of the Lord*Death, Resurrection and the Eggs!

Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

Acts   10:34, 37-43
Colossians 3:1-4
or
1Corinthians 5:6-8
John 20:1-9
or
Matthew 28:1-10

 

I grew up in a province in the North where the celebration of the Easter Sunday is colorful and traditional. It will be started by a sabet, (salubong in Tagalog) before the break of dawn. It is the re-enactment of the meeting of Mary and her son Jesus, after his passion and death, while angels are singing joyously. I used to be one of the children as singing angels. And yes, we anticipate the Easter egg hunting after the mass!
That was my childhood memory. It lasted until my early adulthood. The whole Holy Week would be days of joining processions, keeping intently to our prayers and not to lose our attention to the mass as we struggle against the sweltering heat of summer, and trying to be silent as instructed by elders. The Easter Sunday would be a day for merriment, at long last, it is the time to eat what you have avoided eating in the past days, and of course, going out with friends for picnics at the riverside, as well as to soak our bodies in the cool waters of the river. It is a day of celebration after a week of long prayers, silence, and penitence.
As I engage in deeper communion with the crucified Christ throughout the Holy Week by meeting people and responding to even their practical needs, I knew then that the story of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection is not as simple as my childhood narratives.
The jubilant story of Jesus Christ’s resurrection comes with a story of pain, suffering and death. Under the Roman Empire, Jesus was humiliated, and sentenced to die through crucifixion. What happened was a violent killing of a man posing threat to the ruling empire. But how could a simple man, living in a Roman province away from the center of religious and political power then, pose a threat to those who are in authority?
• Jesus, as he went out to communities, could draw a crowd to follow him. Remember the story about Jesus and His disciples having to feed thousands of people in the mountain? Who followed Him for his sermon? Even his entry to Jerusalem on the last week of his life, was not without a large flock of people. Crowd follows him.
• Jesus questioned the authority. He was once asked about whether it was lawful for a Jew to pay taxes to Caesar, Jesus answered in a way that simultaneously acknowledged Rome’s authority and announced clear limits to that authority: “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:16). Indeed, he was teaching about the limitation of human ruling leaders and institutions, and that the people could question it.
We could think of other reasons why Jesus had somehow threatened the ruling Roman empire then that led to his death. We knew what happened next. We knew how he suffered from lashes, mockery, and humiliation before he finally died on a cross right in front of many people. And as was told, he came back to life after the third day – the resurrection.
Easter reminds us that the ruling elite will crucify those who threaten their power. Jesus was undeniably believed by the people. His sermons could empower people and could make them realize how they are taken advantage of, by those who hold positions. The only way to stop this is to silence the people by shaming, discrediting the ones leading them, and putting them to death.
Now, I am reminded of the life of Msgr. Oscar Romero, a San Salvadoran bishop who was gunned down while saying a mass at his church in March 24, 1980. He was known for his strong stand against poverty, social injustices, and killings of El Salvadoran people. Even Pope Francis stated that “His ministry was distinguished by a particular attention to the most poor and marginalized”. The UN in recognition of Msgr. Romero’s work in the defense of human life, declared March 24 as “International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims”
In the Philippines, similar stories happen. The 9th Obispo Maximo of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, was found dead in the morning of October 3, 2006. He was stabbed multiple times in his little convent in Tarlac City. OM Ramento was a known defender of the poor, most particularly of the toiling farm workers of the disputed Hacienda Luisita. He was also a known critic of government leaders who are abusive of their power. He would teach about the reign of God here on Earth through life in abundance, of food on every table, and land to the farmers, just wages for workers and a decent life for all.
Romero and Ramento followed the footsteps of Jesus. They have a flock of people and they could organize them to question the status quo. They could empower communities and those excluded to assert for their life and their rights. And this could threaten the power of those in authority.
What happened on the third day was not simply Jesus being resuscitated into life. He resurrected, and by way of resurrection, he came back to life amongst those who would make his teachings alive. A change happened. My wild imagination would say that the concept of change is the reason why Easter is often associated with eggs (and egg hunting!). Though we have an idea what would be the creature to come out, we wouldn’t know how it looks like until it hatches. But wait, there’s more! A continuing process of transformation takes place as it grow. The color, the appearance, its ability as the creature grows older- all will undergo a process of transformation.
The defense of the poor, especially of the landless peasant was continued even after OM Ramento died. The IFI church has even institutionalized through program desks its work for human rights in the country. Many from the clergy and lay were also conscienticized and opened its ministry for the basic sectors.
Then and now, every time the state or its agents would kill an influential critic, a group of people will come out to continue the legacy that was left off, to hold on to the works of justice that those in authority are afraid of. History tells us that the death of one wouldn’t kill the people’s desire to stop the evils in the society perpetrated by the ruling elite.
In Acts 10:41, it was told that ‘He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead’. Jesus appeared to people whom he believed will continue his ministry on Earth. And in doing so, a process of transformation should also happen within us, to make us anew. ‘Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.  Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.’
This points out to the truth that in following Jesus steps, it comes with allowing ourselves to change, seeing the process of resurrection that happened to him and to the people that continued to follow and believe him.
May we be reminded of the great tasks laid upon our shoulders as witnesses to Jesus’ life, death and resurrection: that those who rule and those in power would try to crucify and kill those who are perceived as threats to them. But we very well know, that resurrection subverts the law of the empire.##
Jimarie Snap Talingdan Mabanta
Kalipunan ng Kristiyanong Kabataan sa Pilipinas

 

photo grab from  http://dioscg.org/index.php/the-drama-of-easter-brings-us-hope-in-life-everlasting/

April 9, 2017, Passion/Palm Sunday (6th Sunday in Lent) * The March for Empowerment

Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24

Isaiah 50:4-7

Philippians 2:6-11

Matthew 21:1-11 or Matthew 26:14-27, 66  or Matthew 27:11-54

If you are a fan of Science Fiction movies, you will like the movie Power Rangers. The story is about five ordinary teens who were chosen to save their small town from being obliterated by an alien threat. But the only way to make their mission possible is that they have to band together as one, as Power Rangers. The mystery now is how will they do it?

While travelling to Jerusalem with his disciples, Jesus must have been planning something in his mind. He knew that his “time” is near, and he must have been thinking of what to leave with his disciples and followers. When they approached Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus had a plan. So he asked two of his disciples to get a Donkey and its colt. The disciples, with no doubt, followed Jesus’ instruction to them.

It is obvious how influential Jesus was to his disciples; how powerful his words are.

Power, it is such a big word for us. We think of it as a degree, as a label, and as something to be so boastful about. Sad to say that some of us who have power are over powered by it. They become so drown over their power that they take advantage of others’ weaknesses, they take advantage of those they work with; and they use their power to manipulate the minds of their people.

That is the opposite of what Jesus did.

Everybody knew that a “Victory March”  is a tradition to welcome one special person. But  little did they know that Jesus is up for something. He showed the people that that March is not for him alone, but for everybody; everybody who believes, trusts and follows him. He showed them that it’s not just his victory, but everybody’s victory.

The moment Jesus asked two of his disciples to get the donkey and his colt, he has been preparing everybody for something. He was empowering them. He knew his “time” is about to come, and he knew that it’s time to pass on the power not just to one person, but to all of those who followed and believed in him. He empowered his disciples to leadership, to continue the great commission that Jesus started. He believed in them, he believed they can.

That is how a True leader thinks. A true leader empowers his people for unity. A true leader empowers his people to stand, shout and fight for their rights, just like how Jesus did when he let the people express their hearts as they shout “Hosanna! Laud Hosanna!” A true leader does not think of himself alone, but what is the common good for everybody. He does not lifts himself up, but he lifts everybody. A true leader believes in his people; and He empowers them to believe in themselves.

In the movie Power Rangers, we thought that the Red Ranger is the leader of the group. All along, we thought that he is the main character, but he is not. The Power Rangers could not Morph, why? Because they were all depending on one person, they were just depending on themselves. But in the end, they all realized that in order for them to Morph and be Power Rangers, they have to be one, they have to believe in each other, they have to empower one another.

The people in the story laid down their cloaks as Jesus walked through them. They offered their protection to Jesus. They lifted up their voices to Jesus. They willingly offered what they have to Jesus; and Jesus did the same thing, He showed them that the Victory March is for everybody, that Victory has come to them.

We may feel that we have no part in making change in this world. But we are wrong. Jesus empowered his people, and now He is empowering us. We are all leaders, we all have the power the make change in this world. All we need to do is unite, band together, believe in each other, listen to each other and empower one another. No one can do it alone, but together, we can. ##

Deaconess Amiel Meneses

United Methodist Church

Tarlac Philippines Annual  Conference

Photo grab from:http://www.daily-devotionals.com/2013/03/palm-sunday-praise/

April 2, 2017, 5th Sunday in Lent*Ayon Sa Pananampalataya

“Opo, Panginoon! Sumasampalataya po ako sa inyo at naniniwalang kayo nga ang Cristo, ang Anak ng Diyos na paparito sa daigdig.” (Juan 11:27 BMBB)

Ito ang salitang binitiwan ni Marta bilang pagpapahayag ng kanyang pananampalataya kay Hesus. Sinambit niya ito sa gitna ng kanyang pagdadalamhati kaya’t maaari nating sabihin na matibay o malalim ang kanyang pananampalataya.

Saan ba nagmumula ang pananampalataya? Mayroon ba tayong maaaring gawin o dapat maranasan upang magkaroon tayo ng pananampalatayang katulad ng kay Marta? Kailangan ba natin ng sapat na dami ng kaalaman mula sa Biblia? Makakatulong ba ang regular na pagdarasal at paglahok sa mga gawain ng simbahan? O baka naman kailangan din nating maging matulungin at maging mapagkalinga sa kapwa?

Ngunit sa ating pagsusumikap na pagyamanin ang ating pananampalataya, maaari rin siguro nating itanong kung paano ba ito nagiging mahalaga sa atin? Niyayakap at pinapaunlad ba natin ang ating pananampalataya dahil ito ay bahagi ng ating pagkakilanlan? Naghahangad ba tayo ng malalim na pananampalataya dahil nais nating maging tiyak ang sariling kaligtasan? Ano kaya ang mawawala kung “mas maliit” ang pananampalataya natin kaysa sa iba o sa inaasahan sa atin bilang mga tagasunod ni Hesus?

Sa gitna ng panganib (Juan 11:8 BMBB) at pagdadalamhati (Juan 11:33 BMBB), nasaksihan natin kung paanong ang kasalukuyang kalagayan ng pananampalataya ng mga alagad at ng mga kapatid ni Lazaro ay nagdala sa kanila upang tumugon sa iba’t ibang paraan. Takot ang mga alagad na bumalik sa Judea dahil sa tangka sa buhay ni Hesus, habang si Tomas naman ay may sapat na lakas ng loob upang samahan si Hesus sa kamatayan (Juan 11:16 BMBB). Matatag na paglalahad ng kaalaman at paniniwala naman ang naging pamamaraan ni Marta na ibang iba sa paiyak na pagharap ni Maria kay Hesus. Mapapansin natin na sa kahit anong paraan ng kanilang pagtugon, sinamahan sila ni Hesus bilang kanilang liwanag upang maparangalan ang Diyos at ang Anak ng Diyos.

Sa ating mga sariling karanasan, kailangan nating matutunang harapin ang mga pangkasalukuyang hamon sa diwa ng ating pananampalataya. Hindi natin dapat tapusin sa pinanghahawakang pangako ng buhay na walang hanggang ang mga kaso ng di-makatarungang pamamaslang sa ngalan ng kampanya ng gubyerno na gera laban sa droga. Hindi sapat ang ating mga awa at pagtangis para sa mga manggagawang Pilipino na inaabuso sa loob at labas ng ating bansa. Gaya ng ibang mga alagad, hindi tayo dapat magdadalawang isip sa ating pagsunod kay Hesus kung mapanganib na ang kanyang susunod na lalakbayin. Taglay nawa natin ang kahandaan ni Tomas na samahan si Hesus kahit sa kamatayan bunga ng Kanyang gawaing nagbibigay sa lahat ng buhay na ganap at kasiya-siya.

Panalangin. O Diyos, tulungan ninyo kaming tumugon sa tawag ng pananampalatayang ipinagkaloob mo sa amin upang patuloy naming masaksihan ang iyong kadakilaan. Amen.##

 

Floyd Castro

St.Mark United Methodist Church

Manila

 

Photo grab from:https://presbydestrian.wordpress.com/tag/presence/