November 26, 2017, Christ the King, 35th Sunday in Ordinary Time (24th after Pentecost)

 

Hapag ng Pag-ibig ni Joey Velaasco 

 Psalm 23:1-3,5-6

 

Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17

1Corinthians 15:20-26, 28

Matthew 25:31-46

 

 

Doing Mission in the Peripheries of the Society and of the Church

 

            It has been one month and 10 days, to be exact, already since Fr. Efren N. Reyes, MJ and I arrived in Tangos, Navotas City. The Missionaries of Jesus assigned us here to start a mission. We are renting a small studio-type apartment. Houses are very close. We can hear the steps of the passers-by and the daily gossiping of our neighborhood. We do not have parish, but a family-owned chapel where we gather to celebrate the Holy Eucharist. We call our insertion here as Mission Station. It is the first time of the diocese to have a set-up like this, instead of a parish, and we are the first missionaries who started the program. In the words of the bishop, we are the Buena mano. In our first few days of stay here, we went around to see the place and meet some people. Navotas is said to be the fishing industry of the Philippines. I can see people transporting volumes of bagoong for the market. Fisherfolks go for fishing at 5:00 in the morning, and return home before noon time. People then invest banca. Huge bancas would cost thousands of pesos up to 7 million.

Tangos is one of the biggest barangays in Navotas with 40,000 populations. It is also the last barangay of Navotas. There are many children in our place. Some even are still awake late in the evening chatting with their friends along the street, and they disturb those people who sleep early including Fr. Efren, whose bed is just meters away. I have also discovered that people here are very fond of images and statues of religious icons. I can see in their houses huge statues of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Sto. Niño, St. Roque, St. Raphael, and other saints. During the Eucharistic Celebration, they get their statues from their houses and place it on the altar. Sometime, Fr. Efren is invited to say mass in our nearby parish few meters from our apartment. I go with him and I assist him. In the parish, near the altar, the statue of Christ the King is placed in preparation for the Solemnity of Christ the King. The statue wears a golden crown, elegant red robe, and a baton with a cross sign. In many medieval cathedrals, we can also see the figure of Christ throned in glory.

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. It is also the end of the calendar year of our church. Meaning, next Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent Season. We are nearly approaching the birth of our Savior. The gospel from St. Matthew tells us about the last judgment where Jesus separates the sheep and the goat. The sheep will place on his right, while the goats on his left. The sheep are those who feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, cloth the naked, visit the sick and the prisoner. We call these the traditional Seven Corporal Works of Mercy including burying the dead. The goats are those who failed to do what the sheep have done. Very surprising, we may say, that the judgment of Jesus lies on responding the poor and needy. To be saved is not just to pray faithfully, to have annual confession, to participate in the Holy Eucharist, etc. Of course, these are all necessary for the salvation of our souls. But, the gospel of Matthew is telling us now that the final judgment is based solely on what we have done or what we failed to do for one another. Jesus is in the poor and needy. To serve them is to serve him. We have to remember that we are made according to his image and likeness (Gen. 1:26).

Bishop Pablo Virgilio S. David, the bishop of the Diocese of Kalookan, is very strong to his commitment to go to the peripheries where people are ignored, neglected, abandoned, and have not been reached out by the church. That is why he is inviting religious congregations, including Missionaries of Jesus, in his diocese to respond to the new paradigm of doing mission in the diocese. He is also planning to have more mission stations in the diocese. So far, there are three mission stations I know. So, the bishop is very serious to serve the biggest number of people in our society today, the poor. Bishop David then stresses that these people are the peripheries of our society, and, sadly, also the peripheries of our church. They are the peripheries of our church today because they do not have access to the sacraments, which are essential to the salvation of our soul. He is very much willing to spend money to rent a house just to reach out the poor, and even if we do not have a church building. In Tangos, we are holding Eucharistic Celebration in the streets. We will not build a church made of stone, but church made of people.

We are now also in the Year of the Clergy and the Consecrated Persons. It is of great challenge as shepherds to look after the welfare of our sheep. During the opening of the Year of the Clergy and the Consecrated Person of the diocese last November 18, 2017, Fr. Benjamin E. Alforque, MSC reminds the clergy and the religious to be truly shepherds of Christ’s flock and to be a Church of Poor. Fr. Alforque cited some concrete examples. He said that the clergy and the religious are so privileged. When a clergy or religious is in crisis, they go for a retreat and spend thousands of pesos, while poor people do not have such opportunity. When people have seen a clergy or religious sweeping, people would tend to say,  ̏Father∕Sister, don’t you have somebody to do sweeping for you?” Fr. Alforque reminds the parishioners not to spoil their priests and religious sisters.

Fr. Efren reiterates the words of Bishop David, “Our presence in the Mission Station in Tangos, Navotas is to give flesh to the Gospel.” And that’s we are trying to do in Tangos. So far, we try to make sure that people have access to the sacraments anytime without imposing fix amount of stipend. One time, we blessed the dead newly born baby. As missionaries, we are joyfully journeying with the people of Tangos in their joys and sadness with the guidance of Jesus, the true Servant King.

 

Bro. Jay-AR D. Roferos,mj

49 S Roldan Street

Tangos, Navotas City

 

 

Nov 19, 2017 Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time*In The Meantime…

 

Prov. 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31

Ps 128: 1-5

1Thess 5:1-6

Matt 25:14-30

Jesus’ life was simple.  He taught in simple words. In fact he taught in the form of stories, parables, which are supposed to be designed for easier understanding.  Or so, it seems.  But it is not a question of easy or difficult.  It is a matter of approach.  What we have to try to understand is that in Jesus’ time, place and culture, the elements of his context, whatever the background that made his life colorful or drab, meaningful or terrifying have to be understood on a critical note.  And as a woman, I would like to add the approach of questioning, “What does He have to say for the women of His time and my time today ?”.  You see, what makes the Bible so interesting is the collective elements of writing style, symbols, form, language, history and herstory, and ways of life, of that time, all woven into one beautiful tapestry.

Today, there is a certain lilt in my heart.  I just remembered, it’s only two more Sundays and Advent is here.  The best time of the year for me!  So, these 2 Sundays make it special.  Let’s make it the pre-Advent Sundays.  After all, next Sunday is the last Sunday of the year, when we celebrate Christ the King Sunday.  But, let’s not go too far.  Let’s look at today.

Church readings are arranged in such a way as to help us in the celebration of the Word of God. I liken it to a musical score of a great film.  The arrangement of the music leads us to something.  It tells us that whenever you hear this you’ll be reminded of the film, right?  I would always be reminded of the scenes of Han Solo and Chewbacca, and of Princess Leia’s unparalleled courage and determination facing imminent danger when I hear that all too familiar movie theme of Star Wars.

So, our Sunday church readings lead us to a message and that reminds us that we are a community gathered in the joy and love of God.  Like the movie theme, it leads us to celebrating ordinary times to seasons to feasts, commemorations, memorials, and remind us that we are God’s people coming together for a purpose.  It is a foretelling that eternity awaits us and there celebrate the greatest gift of all, eternal life. But there’s more to it.  There’s more to humanity gathering in Church.   There is a deeper call and we must listen “with the ear of our heart” (Rule of Benedict, Prologue)  …

In all of the readings today, I see recurring themes, patterns that were also highlighted in previous readings. I see symbols loaded with meaning.  This Sunday is a day loaded with meaning.  It is the 2^nd to the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year.  This Sunday is between last, and next.  It is what I call a “liminal period” in our liturgical life. It is a significant “in-betweener”, a space between the door that opens outside and inside, the threshold where there is here and there, and in and out.  We are “in the meantime”.  For what?  We are in the meantime for the fulfillment of the great promise of life eternal, the coming of Christ, who is love eternal. Love without end.  This is our salvation in the here and now, when we have responded to the call to unconditional love, the call to die to ourselves and gain the life we so desire.

God calls us again and again in so many ways, if we only look at every corner, and see at every turn.  In a society where the ninety-nine percent live in misery, while the one percent live in luxury, we are compelled to ask, why and how?  Truly there is something to ponder about, or better yet to act upon? Indeed our feet are made of clay, and we shudder at the sight of street people, turn our look away at the lone child feeding at his mother’s dry breasts.  And oh we pray, we pray that someday these people will get the help they need.

The problem of society is indifference.  It is commonplace that this is the attitude we embody when we face life’s wretchedness.  How sad indeed.

In our First Reading (Proverbs 31: 10-13, 19-20, 30-31), the woman (wife) is a powerful symbol, I say, symbolizing the Church.  Called to be the Partner of Christ. Called to carry out the mission of performing the Works of Mercy – welcome the stranger, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give water to the thirsty, visit  the sick, give hope to the imprisoned.  This is the very core of “being church’.  Being church makes us see that the human person is replete with the goodness of God.  And so is rightfully heir to the goodness of the Works of Mercy we, Christians are called to do.

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus’ teaching the parable of the talents (Matt. 25: 14-30)  is placed in a chronology of events unfolding in the life of Jesus and his followers.  We read here one of last four chapters alluding to Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection.  The highlight of events coming in the life of Jesus.  It would be good to look at two verses that act like bookends for our Gospel reading today. If we read the verse before the opening to the parable we are treating here, it says, “Stay awake, for you do not know the day nor the hour.” (Matt. 25:13)  And the parable begins…Then when it ends, the next verse, begins with a description of a glorious, pompous coming of the Son of Man. Which is obviously the story of the Last Judgment (Matt. 25:31).  There, do we see now where lies the in-between?   Simply put, the message goes, if you stay awake, chances are you will be prepared when the Son of Man comes.  So, the “how do you stay awake?” problem is treated by considering this the “in-between”, the “in the meantime” time.  What do we do then with the time we have in our hands?

Talents are gifts.  And if we consider them gifts, they must be good.  We can therefore treat “talent” in this context as the good we do. So, “in the meantime”, as we wait for “the coming of the Son of Man”, to stay awake would mean,   welcome the stranger, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give water to the thirsty, visit  the sick, give hope to the imprisoned…stand for the cause of peace,  give a prophetic voice in the streets to “stop the killings”, give new life opportunities for those left behind by victims of extra-judicial killings, give voice to those shut by patriarchy’s force, learn to love in the face of terror and might.

As Christians we are all called to be co-creator, re-creating a new universal order that is founded in justice, where lasting peace resides.  This is the in-between time, we should cautiously care for.  Staying awake , keeping alert is to act out what our Faith compels us to do.

So, in the meantime, may I invite you to a Liturgical Study Reflection on Violence Against Women and the book launching of Pinay Magnificat: Living Out Our Theology, on Saturday, Nov.25, 2017, 2-5pm @ The Conference Room- Cathedral of St. Mary and St John Episcopal Church in the Philippines, 275 E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave., Quezon City.  Discover… “Filipino women’s articulations of lived realities from the ground seeking to bring into the light God’s many acts of liberation through the people’s collective action for peace and justice.  Pinay Magnificat is a collective voice of Filipino women challenging systems and structures that deny life.”##

Weena S. Meily

Catholic

ALS Program- La Salle, Greenhills

 

 

Photograb from:http://www.cokesburychurch.com/sermons/saved-people-serve-people/

 

 

 

 

November 12, 2017, 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (22nd after Pentecost) *

Psalm 63:2-8

Wisdom 6:12-16

1Thessalonians 4:13-18

Matthew 25:1-13

Matthew 25:1-13  (NRSV)

The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids

25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids^[a]took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.^[b] 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³ When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; ⁴ but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. ⁵ As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. ⁶ But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ ⁷ Then all those bridesmaids^[c] got up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. ¹¹ Later the other bridesmaids^[d] came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ ¹² But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ ¹³ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.^[e]

 

____________________________________

We often criticize women in their own weakness and sensitivity but not of their own strength and power. In this powerful illustration of the gospel of Matthew we can see the total dependence of the reign of God in its form and structure. Let us reflect the “Plurality of Women.”

1. Powerful Illustration of Women

Women are normally vulnerable for sexist  teasing and joke. That is patriarchy permeated  in the consciousness of people.

On many occasions, man is the one we portrayed as our heroes and savior, but let the course of this reflection view the women as the one who is needed to protect and served the church and the society where they belong. We can simply understand that the illustration of women in this gospel of Matthew gave a lot of impression on the weakness and strength of a women. Light here has a significant symbol of God’s presence in time of darkness, noticed the women who prepare and being ready to spend the whole night for their Master who are about to be married. Preparation is a big task for women especially the mothers. They will do everything to keep things in order, even preparing each concern in details not like men who don’t care, unless it was their wife who prepare for what they need to be prepared.

1. Church Dependence of Women

Our present Church age were so engrossed of so many preparations especially before Christmas and during the Advent seasons. Who are the one working for these preparations are mainly women, and the youth perhaps. Seldom may you find men doing this preparatory work.  But the church even before it was conceived has seen practically dependent in women. Yet our church was not giving due respect to women. It’s time that those who are giving more time and service be given an ample due respect. During the creations it would be easy to understand that God gave His own equal and a balance treatment to both men and women. When God said in Gen. 1:26 “let us make human being in our own image,” God is planning a good future for both men and women. With all due respect to John, majority of those who stayed with Jesus at Golgotha were women. Matthew’s parable of preparations gives worth and emphasis to women’s capabilities, dedication, and power. The church is dependent on them and without them there will be a potential chaos. The only man in this illustration is the master who we normally attribute to God. This is because the society during that time is patriarchal.  Nevertheless, the redactor gave much emphasis on women, them as the main personality of the Reign of God.

2.Equalization of Women’ Rights

When we read and reflect on this parable, the writer equalized the weakness and strength of women. Balancing the situation of the group which does not involved any group of men. If the writer of Matthews gospel gave this thought and ideas in their society during that time, how long does our community wait for the proper time we should accept the equality of men and women. In our laws we have conjugal properties –meaning both men and women are equally given the right to any properties that they have after the wedding. It will be both of them who has the right to decide if they want to sell their properties or not. But even in this concern most of the time men has been considered more powerful than women.

 

Given the idea of this parable, the writer or redactor gave a balance between the number of foolish and wise women. Am just wondering if we are given a time to decide of any case or decision to make are we considering women’s ideas or women’s understanding. The value and the worth of women needs to be exalted. More over in our society not only in our church we should value women in such a way that they were created with same importance with men.

CONCLUSION

Much has given to men but not for women, may our Church need to recognize now the importance of both. In our Family, Church and Society. The macho image is already obsolete and no more use in our present day. But I am not saying that men were be given due respect, it should be both of them in the eyes of God and in our midst.  Let us create a Church and Society that will depend in both power of men and women equally. I believed God will also be blessed by our pursuit in doing a just and lasting society that will benefits both.

If I were to retell the parable I will include the men together with the women in one side waiting for the bridegroom to come. The men carrying a container of oil that will last for 24 hours…. So they will not worry of the coming darkness but they will be brave enough to wait for more than a night.  ##

 

Rev. Jun Equila

United Methodist Church

Overseas Filipino Pastor in Singapore

 

 

Photograb from:https://jorgecocco.com/2016/12/06/the-ten-virgins-parables-series/

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time 1st Malachi 1:24-2, 8-10 ; Ps 131: 1-3 ; 2nd 1 Thes 2: 7-9 , 13 ; Mt. 23: 1-12 * Pamumuno

Ang mga pagbasa nati ngayon Linggo ay nagbibigay ng mga aral kung paano maging isang mabuting lider. Sinasabi sa evanghelyo na ang tinutukoy dito ay ang mga tagapag-patupad ng kasulatan o mga guro ng batas. At higit sa lahat ang responsibilidad ng isang lider sa kanyang mga nasasakupan. Ayon sa isang iskolar ng Bibliya ang buong chapter ng 23 ay isang “religious polemic” na hinabi ng may-akda ng ebanghelyo[1]. Para sa may-akda na si Mateo ang kanyang layunin sa pagsulat ay upang tugunan ang problema ng Kristiayanong Pamumuno na lumihis at hindi nakaabot sa pamantayang ibinigay ni Jesus. Marapat lamang na basahin at unawain ang ebanghelyo bilang isang teolohiyang pahayag at hindi isang moral na panawagan.[2] Ayon sa pagkaunawa ng mga iskolar sa Bibliya ang nais ipahiwatig ni Mateo ay ang kaakibat na responsibilidad ng mga guro ng batas. Hindi naman itinatakwil ni Mateo ang katuruan ng tungkol sa batas at relihiyon at lalo na si Jesus. Bagkus pagsasawalang- bahala ng mga guro ng batas sa responsibilidad na inaatang sa kanila bilang isang lider. Bilang isang guro at lider marapat lamang na isabuhay nila ang kanilang itinuturo. Subalit ayon sa ating ebanghelyo ang mga guro ng batas ay hindi naging halimbawa, sapagkat hindi sila nagsasabuhay ng mga katuruang kanilang itinuturo sa kanilang mga miyembro.

“At sinabi ni Jesus sa mga tao at sa kanyang mga alagad: Ang mga guro ng Batas at mga Pariseo ang umuupo sa puwesto ni Moses. Pakinggan at gawin ang lahat nilang sinasabi pero huwag silang pamarisan, sapagkat nagsasalita sila pero hindi naman ginagawa. Naghahanda sila ng mabibigat na pasanin at ipinapatong sa mga balikat ng mga tao. Ngunit hindi nila ikinikilos ni isang daliri para galawin ang mga iyon. Pakitang tao lamang ang lahat nilang ginagawa; dahil dito, malapad na laso ng kasulatan ang gusto nila para sa kanilang noo at mahahabang palawit sa kanilang balabal” (Mateo 23:1-5).

 

Ang mga sumunod na talata naman (Mateo 23: 8-12) ay patungkol sa mga alagad, tagasunod ni Jesus at sa mga lider ng relihiyon:

 

“Huwag kayong patawag na guro sapagkat iisa lamang ang Guro ninyo at magkakapatid kayong lahat.” Huwag din ninyong tawagin ama ang sinuman sa mundo sapagkat iisa lamang ang inyong ama sa langit. . .Sapagkat ibababa ang nagpapakataas at itataas ang nagpapakababa.”

 

Ang isa sa mga pagkaunawa dito ng mga guro experto sa bibliya[3] na hindi isang mortal na kasalanan na tawaging “Ama”, “Pastor”, Doktor”, “Father”, “Mother”, “Reverendo” , “Pastora”, “Sister” ng kanilang nasasakupang miyembro. Bagkus ang mga paggalang na ito ay isang responsibilidad ng mga ministro, guro, pari, madre, obispo, cardinal at lider ng simbahan na buwagin ang pader na naghihiwalay sa pagitan nila at ng kanilang mga miyembro. Ang mga paggalang na ibinigay sa mga lider ay hindi dapat maging rason upang sila ay magpakataas at umastang “hari at reyna ng kaharian ng Diyos” o di kaya ay umastang “Diyos”. Ito ang dahilan kung kaya’t sinabi na “ibababa ang nagpapakataas at itataas ang nagpapakababa” at “lahat kayo ay magkakapatid at iisa lamang ang inyong ama sa langit”. Lahat tayo ay magkakapatid na may parehong karapatan at responsibilidad na respetohin at pangalagaan ang isa’t-isa.  Subalit marami sa mga lider at guro ng mga batas sa communidad na mababasa natin sa ebanghelyo ni Mateo na naliligaw o lumilihis ng landas kung kaya’t ang mga katagang huwag kayong patatawag na “ama” at “guro” at nabanggit.  Makikita din natin sa unang pagbasa na ito hindi lamang sa panahon ni Jesus at Mateo na nangyayari na ang tinaguriang lider ay lumilihis ng kanilang landas, sinasabi sa aklat ni Malakias (1: 24-2, 8-10) na “Ngunit lumilihis kayo ng landas, marami ang nadadapa dahil sa mali ninyong turo. . . Hindi ba’ may iisang ama tayong lahat? Hindi bat iisang Diyos ang lumikha sa ating lahat? Kung gayo’y bakit ipinagkakanulo ng bawat isa sa atin ang ating kapatid at nilalapastangan ang Tipan ng ating mga ninuno?” Atin ding mababasa sa UnangTesalonika ( 2;7-9, 13) na sinabi ni San Pablo “Kahit na maaari naman naming hingin na igalang kami bilang mga apostol ni Kristo. Sa halip, kami ay naging magiliw sa inyo gaya ng pagpapasuso at kumakandong sa kanyang sanggol. At sa laki ng aming malasakit sa inyo , handa naming ibigay sa inyo, hindi lamang ang ebanghelyo, kundi ang sariling buhay sapagkat totoong mahal namin kayo. . .”

Ang mga pagbasa natin ngayon ay sumasalamin kung bakit nagkakaroon ng krisis ang mga lider at guro ng katuruan. Ang kanilang kontexto ay hindi nalalayo sa atin. Marami ang mga taong naliligaw ng landas at nalulong sa paggawa ng mali sapagkat may mga lider at guro ng ating simbahan at bayan na hindi magiliw at mapagkalinga sa kanilang nasasakupan.  Marami sa kanila na mas inuuna ang sariling kapakanan at hindi ang ikabubuti ng lahat.  Ang iba sa ating mga guro at tagapagpatupad ng batas ay hindi nagiging halimbawa at daan upang makamit katarungan at hustisya para sa mga mahihirap na inaagawan ng dangal. Gayun may mga lider at guro tayo simbahan na hindi nagsasabuhay ng mga panlipunang katuruan ng simbahan. Ito ilan lamang sa mga krisis na makikita natin sa ating mga lider sa gobyerno at simbahan. Kung kaya’t ang hamon sa mga pagbasang ating narinig ngayon Linggo ay  isabuhay ang mga katuruang itinuturo, tunay na magmalasakitan at magmahalan bilang magkakapatid dahil tayo ay nilikha ng iisang Diyos bagamat iiba ang ating katawagan. Lahat tayo ay mga anak ng Diyos kung kayat maramat lamang na ang kabutihan at kapakanan ng bawat isa ang dapat na manguna. Para sa mga lider isang hamon na tunay maglingkod sa Diyos at sa Bayan. At bilang pangwakas ang mga pagbasa ngayon ay isang hamon upang suriin kung paano tayo nagsasabuhay ng mga katuruan at batas na meron ang ating simbahan at lipunan. ##

 

Sr. Lhen Casas, NDS

 

[1] Douglas R. A. Hare,  Interpretation : A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching Gospel of Matthew (John Knox Press, 1993) p.263-266

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

 

 

photograb from https:https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=paglilingkod+wing+garibay&tbm=isch&tbs=rimg:CSUIaBOX-tUkIjgWnCoaPUR1qUZyYcYmbldXdQWBxrAFmLAb5edK6C5iApVOfKY170AJHQ8HkGNeMDJ8NyThFd5M3CoSCRacKho9RHWpEYp5y905bCZyKhIJRnJhxiZuV1cRvLliYrKv5ekqEgl1BYHGsAWYsBG8X4wZvnA6oCoSCRvl50roLmICERs0T-f3ZAsUKhIJlU58pjXvQAkRfJI_1aSx726wqEgkdDweQY14wMhE1dcNjU-JNcSoSCXw3JOEV3kzcEQy7nxTpXREp&tbo=u&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi-58HgvKTXAhVLkJQKHf6ODa8Q9C8IHw&biw=1366&bih=634&dpr=1#imgrc=5ncPqqqn3xKdaM: