First Sunday of Advent*November 29,2020*ADVENT: A GRADUAL MOVING TOWARDS FULLNESS OF LIFE

Fr. Meng Barawid,MI (PCPR-Australia)

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

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Isaiah 64:1-9

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Mark 13:24-37

Welcome to the season of advent; adventus in latin and  Parousia in Greek  which  literally means “coming”. This season set us to contemplate on the two coming of Jesus Christ: His coming as a human person and His second coming at the end of time (parousia) to rule an eternal kingdom.  It is a season of preparation for Christmas and at the same time a preparation for Jesus’ second coming. In this season we contemplate on the coming of the savior, Jesus Christ – the Word made flesh (John 1:1, 14), who took on human nature to effect salvation which is liberation from the maladies of human existence to fullness of life (John 10:10) in the here and now and unto the hereafter.   The very purpose of advent season is to usher us into the gradual attainment of fullness of life under the eternal reign of God.

In the first reading (Isaiah 64:1-9), the prophet Isaiah enunciates a perceived absence of God in the life of the Israelites due to their being unclean and sinful people. They became unfaithful to their covenant with God. They failed to keep God’s commands and they neglected their responsibilities toward their neighbours. Their leaders clung on to power and colluded with conquerors rather than trust in God and their own people. Isaiah’s message was directed to the Israelites who were facing imminent occupation by the conquering empire of Syria. For Isaiah fullness of life can be obtained by turning away from transgressions, trusting in God and being fully under God’s kingship.

Like the prophet Isaiah we may feel the same longing for God who is seemingly absent when we look into the grim situation of the Philippines today. The tyrannical rule and collusion of the powers that be with imperialists and capitalists’ greed, rampant human rights violations and extra judicial killings, vilification and red-tagging of human rights defenders and peace advocates,  the gagging of the prophetic voice of church peoples  and the media,  impunity, corruption in government, utter neglect of government in time of pandemic and calamities, leaving behind millions of people in misery and the environment destroyed; these are acts defying a God of mercy, order, justice and peace.  With this kind of situation in this time of advent we long and cry for salvation, a social emancipation from all these evils the Filipino masses are facing. We long for a Christmas free from tyrants and their blind followers, free from neglectful and corrupt government officials; a Christmas lived with joy in a genuine democratic state and on its way to meaningful societal changes- a glimpse to fullness of life.

The second reading (1 Corinthians 1:3-9), the message  of Paul to the Corinthians and, to us  today assures us that while waiting for the definitive time of salvation God, has granted those who wait “…with all discourse and all knowledge (1 cor. 1:5), and that those who wait “… are not lacking in any spiritual gift…” (1 Cor. 1:7). We take to heart the message of Paul lest we fall to despair, hopelessness and apathy when faced with insurmountable adversities such as those realities mentioned above.  As we follow the Lord and live by his commands, we are assured that every endeavour we undertake is a living witness to God’s faithfulness and shall contribute to the attainment of fullness of life for the exploited and marginalized in the society.

The Gospel (Mark 13:24-37), calls followers of the Lord to stay awake, be alert and watchful. Jesus describes his coming as always imminent. He likens his coming to that of the head of a household who entrusted his household to his servants and that in his return he likes to see them doing their responsibilities and are awake to welcome him. If the Philippines is the Lord’s household and we are his servants given charge to keep the household in good condition then we take that as our responsibility. We shall not be fobbed off by public servants who are acting like “Lords” but in reality, are thieves and murderers, destroying God’s household. Being awake, alert and watchful is not only being focused on the coming of the Lord but also at the same time keeping his household on track in the experience of fullness of life.

The season of advent calls us to continue to participate in the establishment of God’s kingdom in the here and now of the Philippine society, to be firm in our resolve to live in righteousness by being vigilant, ever awake and responsible of our God given duties to nurture and protect his household – the Philippine society from the evil schemes of the fake “Lords”. As we live these calls we are gradually moving into the attainment of fullness of life. The question is are we fully committed to live up to these calls?

November 22, 2020*Christ the King/Reign of Christ *The Blessed Ones

Dss. Norma P. Dollaga

https://www.rappler.com/voices/imho/life-doctor-barrio

   

Ps 23:1-3,5-6

Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17

1Corinthians 15:20-26, 28

Matthew 25:31-46

WE are humanized when we feel the pain and grief of others – of those known and even unknown to us. We intimately know the essence of humanity’s interconnection like an umbilical cord that bond us to one another. In fact, this is where the slang “utol” came from. It came from the word “kaputol”, which means we came from the same umbilical cord. This connection is especially true when our own senses, body and spirit feel the agony of our own people, particularly those who suffer from oppression, cruelty and exploitation.  Our failure to grieve miseries, hunger and abuse is a warning signal – we can be betraying our own humanity.

A mother whose son was killed by the drug war told us, “The pain and grieve will stay in our hearts. No one can take that away from us.  That is why I seek justice and join other mothers in seeking for justice.”  I recognize that they are not nurturing bitterness nor hate. I even acknowledge and admire how they rise up from sorrow. They sympathize and identify with other mothers, kin and kith of the victims. This explains how they became each other’s source of empowerment, and why they accompany others in filing cases, visiting and praying for the bereaved families, why they volunteer in relief work and assist others their kapwa’s needs. They also participate in public actions demanding for justice and condemning the abuses of the powers-that-be. They gather to demand accountability from the government for the spate of killings, from the bloody drug war to the killings of activists and human rights defenders. 

Meanwhile, our nation is being rocked by disasters and our people is being attacked by tyrannical-misogynist leadership(sic).  We can only appeal to God to declare a furlough or moratorium on cyclones or earthquake. But then, disaster is not an invention of God. Disaster is not just about calamities. It is about vulnerabilities brought by the tandem of unequal distribution of resources, bad governance, and environmental destructive  plunder.  The poor are always the hardest hit by abandonment and negligence.  And in the midst of this perturbing situation, we have a system that weaponizes the law to punish people who are pursuing the cause of human rights, democracy and good governance.  This is tyranny.

Drenched in the downpour   this dismal situation, we are still a nation not running out with GREAT PEOPLE. We are blessed with young people who subvert the belief of “history repeats itself”. They are today’s youth who   learn from history and vow to never repeat the mistake of the past. WE are blessed with people’s lawyers, doctors, health workers, teachers, scientists, artists, journalists , community organizers and professionals who render their intellect and skills to the poor and the masses. They are the brightest and best in their respective fields who give their best without expecting rewards but the hope for the emancipation of the people. We are blessed for having farmers, workers and indigenous people who keep on showing us the meaning of struggle for life’s dignity. They never stopped feeding and tending us, while struggling for land, just wages and protection of ancestral domain.  We are blessed for having these GREAT PEOPLE as human rights defenders and front liners in defending democracy and people’s rights. Their service to the people is invaluable. They make it sure that no one would be left behind  in this life journey of humankind.  They struggle and fight for justice so that no one will go to bed hungry and naked; that every family has a strong roof to withstand the storm and the tempest, that every child and youth will have education; that basic health needs are available and  accessible; that everyone will have equal opportunity and access to legal system; and that the poor will never again be victims of corruption and unjust system. They work hard to fulfill the possible dream.  They are sometimes called activists, human rights defenders, advocates, change makers, dreamers.  However, under Anti-Terrorism Act, they can be called terrorists or be victims of red-tagging.  

All of them who are engaged in this meaningful endeavor and worthy undertaking must have their own grieves and pain. They must have cried a lot whenever the poor are crushed. They would not have the power to keep on struggling if they have not grieved at all.  They do not assume to be heroes. They simply think and do  what is sensible ,rationale and  moral without much explanation  and elaboration why they opted this kind of service to the people. They love, and the love abundantly. Some of the GREAT PEOPLE are victims of extra-judicial killings. Some were illegally arrested, tortured and are languishing in jails for trumped up charges, while others are harassed, red-tagged, or abducted and forcibly disappeared. At this moment, I invite you to pause and think of them.   

On the final day, the judgment day, or the time when the joyous Kingdom of God has come and the dreams of the great people are dawning, what we have done will be “summed-up”. The great people would ask, ‘‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

He will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

We would know, or we know already, that the great people did not do what they needed to do to please the King, but to serve the people.  After all the “King” does not need to be fed, clothed,  hosted , visited in the prison and or be sheltered. It is the POOR, the NEGLECTED, the OPRESSED  who need them and, certainly, God is on their side.  The GREAT PEOPLE, THE BLESSED ONES  are  rewarded because they  have eyes and hearts  for those who were  made invisible , unnamed, unrecorded , marginalized and victimized by unjust system.    They did not seek the “King”  but served those who  were very much near to God’s heart.  BLESSED are they!  

November 15, 2020 *24th Sunday after Pentecost*Saying no to an unjust system

Rev. Dexter Ceballos, United Methodist Church(UMC)

      

Psalm 128:1-5

Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31

1Thess 5:1-6

Matt 25:14-30

Growing up in a poor family, I have always wanted to become rich and successful. I remember my childhood years when my relatives would often ask me, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I would eagerly answer, “I want to become a businessman and become rich.” I would assume that most people desire prosperity and abundance. The Bible also provides several motivational verses in achieving this human desire. Psalms 128: 1-2 is one of those verse, and it states,

Happy are those who obey the LORD,
who live by his commands.
2 Your work will provide for your needs;
you will be happy and prosperous.

One of the parables that is commonly used to motivate people to develop their resources is our gospel reading today. This parable has been traditionally referred to as the “Parable of the talents”. The talents here are not the skills or abilities that a person have like singing, dancing and the like. Rather, it refers to a unit of measurement used to weigh silver or gold. The common value of a talent was 6000 denarii and if one ‘denarri’ is a day’s wage during that time, then 1 talent is worth a lot in our present setting.

According to the parable, the owner of the property, or landlord called his servants and entrusted them the affairs of his properties because he was going on a journey. He gave five talents to the first servant, tow Talents to the second and one talent to the third. The 2 servants with five and two talents, were able to double the value and gave it to the master. The master was pleased and commended their work. We can read this in verse 21,
‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”
On the other hand, the third servant who was not able to make a profit from what he received was punished by the master.

I used to think that the master represents God and the servants represent the people who decided to serve God. But, upon careful reading of the texts, I began to question verse 24 which states, “Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed” This description does not reflect the God I know. God is fair and just as stated in Psalms 115: 5, “The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.” The master in the story is not God, but represents the greedy masters and big landlords of that period.

This parable is a critique of the oppression and exploitation of the workers who labor to enrich the landlords and big business owners. The two servants are part of a system of exploitation and they work hard for the benefit of the landlords.

I remember an anecdote I have read from a random post in the internet:
“A CEO of a company arrived in a fancy sports car and one of the employees saw him. The employee remarked, “Sir, that is a beautiful sportscar, that must be very expensive.” The CEO replied, yes, that supercar is worth millions, and if you work harder, spend more hours in your overtime, and give your best to this company, I will get another one next year.”
This is the sad reality of our laborers who work hard to enrich the big land lords and oligarchs of the Philippines. These workers are surviving in a minimum wage that is below the threshold of Living Wages. According to IBON Foundation, as of February 2020, a family with 5 members needs 1,022 pesos a day in order to live decently; but the minimum wage today ranges from 500 to 537 pesos per day. This system works only for the ruling class and not for the benefit of those who labor and toil.

The third servant, on the other hand, decided to oppose this system. He was branded as lazy and was punished by the greedy master because he refused to be part of an exploitative relationship. It would appear, in verse 23 that the third servant was afraid of this oppressive master, we can read, “so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours,” But his action was a form of resistance. He knew his master would demand a profit from the talent entrusted to him, but he refused to work on it. He was courageous enough to say ‘NO’ to this cycle of oppression and exploitation, even if it would result to banishment and persecutions.

Today, numerous servants of peace and justice are being persecuted and branded as terrorists due to their advocacies in exposing and opposing the injustices perpetuated by the so called “masters” of our society. Church people, members of the civil society and ordinary citizens who express their ‘dissent’ could easily be ‘red-tagged’ as terrorist by these ‘masters.’

The Bible, through this parable, is teaching us to say NO to an unjust system that exploits our workers and laborers. We advocate for ‘living wages’ and necessary benefits for our laborers. We face the greedy masters and tell them, “enough is enough.”

These advocacies may result to persecutions, but I believe, this is the message of the Kingdom of God preached by Jesus. He mentioned this in Matthew 23:23, when he accused the religious leaders of neglecting the weightier matters of the law – Justice and Mercy.

Let us be courageous in the face of persecutions while upholding the message of the Kingdom of God. We follow this Jesus who is concerned with the welfare of all people and desires His followers to do the same.

This is the heart of God:

Micah 6:8
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.