January 30, 2022*Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time* Pagbabago Ngayon Na

  Dss Rubylin G. Litao, Rise Up

https://jaggedsmile.wordpress.com/tag/elijah/

Ps 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15-17              

Jer 1:4-5, 17-19 

1 Cor 12:31—13:13         

Lk 4:21-30           

Ang gawain ni Hesus ng pangangaral ay kanyang ipinagpatuloy sa Nazareth kung saan nandoon ang kanyang mga kababayan kasama ang mga guro ng temple.  Mga gurong  kilalang eksperto sa mga katuruan ng kanilang mga ninuno sa konteksto ng kasaysayan ng mga Hudyo.   Mga gurong feeling na angat sa lahat  dahil sa kanilang kaalaman.   Namangha ang lahat kay Hesus sa mga pangangaral at kaalaman tungkol sa mga kasulatan ng mga naunang propeta, lalo na ng kanyang sinabi,  “Ang kasulatang ito na inyong narinig ay natupad ngayon.” (Lukas 4:21).  At ang mga sumunod na pangangaral na katunayang may malalim na kaalaman si Hesus sa mga propeta: …”maraming biyuda sa Israel noong panahon ni Elias nang hindi umulan sa loob ng tatlo’t kalahating taon at nagkaroon ng taggutom sa buong lupain. ²⁶ Subalit hindi pinapunta si Elias sa kaninuman sa kanila, kundi sa isang biyuda sa Sarepta, sa lupain ng Sidon. ²⁷ Sa dinami-dami ng mga may ketong^[b] sa Israel noong panahon ni Eliseo, wala ni isa mang pinagaling at nilinis maliban kay Naaman, na isang taga-Siria.” (Lukas 4: 25 -27)

Magkahalong  galak at pagmamaliit  kay Hesus ang naging reaksyon ng mga nakikinig  sa kanya. 

Galak sa mga taong may pagkilala kay Hesus bilang dakilang guro at manggagamot lalo na iyong mga sumusubaybay sa kanyang mabubuti at makataong  gawain.  Pagtuturo at pagpapagaling sa mga taong dumadanas ng gutom, kahirapan,  sakit/illness, na hindi pinapansin ng mga eksperto.  Si Hesus na tumutugon sa mga hinaing ng tao at hindi alintana ang mga batas na nagpipigil para sa kagalingan ng mga balo, bata, may ketong at maging ng mga makasalanan.

Pagmamaliit  sa mga pahayag  ni Hesus ang naging reaksyon ng ilan sa mga nakikinig  lalo na marahil ang mga eksperto ng kasulatan  dahil  bilib na bilib sa kanilang sarili  at  alam nila ang kanilang kasaysayan para sa pagpapanatili ng kanilang pwesto at kapangyarihan.   Samantalang  heto si Hesus na anak ng hamak na karpintero ang mangangaral sa kanila!   Malaking insulto at banta si Hesus.  

Para mapagtakpan ang kanilang sariling interes ay tinuya, hinaras at pinagtangkaang patayin  si Hesus. ^“Nagalit ang lahat ng nasa sinagoga nang marinig ito. Nagsitayo sila at itinaboy siyang palabas papunta sa gilid ng bundok na kinatatayuan ng bayan upang ihulog siya sa bangin. (Lukas 4: 28-29)

Ano ang mensahe ng ebanghelyo na ito sa atin bilang mamamayan na nasa panahon ng krisis dulot ng pandemya, pagkawasak dulot ng kalamidad, pagpaslang sa mga maralita sa ngalan ng war on drugs, pagkitil sa buhay at karapatan ng mamamayang nagpapahayag para sa katarungan?

Humaharap ang ating bayan sa isang proseso ng pambansang halalan na umaasang may pagbabago at ginhawa para sa atin lalo na ang mga magsasaka, manggagawa, maralitang pamayanan na dumadanas ng palpak na tugon ng pamahalaang Duterte sa krisis na ating nararanasan.  Malaganap na kahirapan, korupsyon sa panahon ng pandemya, paggamit ng Anti-Terrorism Law para supilin ang mga organisasyon at mamamayang nakikibaka at nagpapahayag para sa kapayapaan at katarungan. 

Kakaiba ang panahong ito na malaki ang pag-asa ng mamamayan para sa pagbabago sa proseso ng halalan.  Tayo bilang mga makabayang Kristyano ay may pagkakataon at pananagutan na mag pahayag ng katotohanan.  Una na dito ang madilim at malaganap na paglabag sa karapatan ng mamamayan na siyang  katotohanan noong panahon ng martial law dagdag pa dito ang malaganap na mga fake news na “golden years” daw ni Marcos.

Tulad ni Hesus na hindi nangiming harapin ang nasa kapangyarihan upang ipahayag ang mabuting balita sa mga mahihirap, paglaya sa mga bihag at palayain ang mga inaapi.  (Lukas 4:18) Buhay man ang naging kapalit.

Nawa ang pag ibig sa ating bayan at kapwa ang magbigay ng pag-asa para patuloy nating unawain ang kalagayan, pakikibaka at pagkilos ng inaaping mamamayan para sa pagbabago ng kasalakuyang sistema ng ating lipunan. ##

January 23, 2022*Third Sunday in Ordinary Time * Kagalingan Bilang Pamayanan

                                         Floyd Castro, St. Marks United Methodist Church

http://www.fairfieldpres.com/blog/the-spirit-of-the-lord-god-is-upon-them-from-sunday-december-17-2017

Awit  19:8, 9, 10, 15       

Neh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10

1 Cor 12:12-30  

Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Ang kwento mula sa aklat ni Nehemiah ay bahagi ng karanasan ng mga Israelita habang sila, bilang isang bayan ay nagbabalik at bumabangon mula sa isang madilim na karanasan – ang pagkakatapon o pagkabihag. Masakit para sa isang bayang kinikilala ang sarili bilang hinirang ng Diyos ang maitapon sa bayan ng paganong mananakop. Kahit sa panahon ng kanilang pagbabalik sa Judah, naging mapanghamon at mapanganib ang hinarap at hinaharap na mga banta (Nehemiah 4:8).

Pagkatapos na muling maitayo ang pader ng Herusalem sa pangunguna ni Nehemiah, ang mga repatriates (mga pinauwi mula sa pagkakatapon) ay nagtipun-tipon na “parang isang tao” (Nehemiah 8:1, ABTAG2001) upang marinig ang pagbasa ng salita ng Diyos mula sa aklat ng kautusan. Marahil sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon pagkatapos ng mahabang panahon ay narinig nilang muli at naunawaan (Nehemiah 8:8) ang mga salita mula sa kautusan ni Yahweh. Bagamat aklat ng kautusan ang turing, malamang na kasama sa binasa at inunawa ang sariling kasaysayan ng pagliligtas ni Yahweh mula sa pagkakaalipin sa kamay ng mga Egipcio. Ang nakaraan ng kanilang bayan ay personal nilang nararanasan at pinaghuhugutan ng bagong pag-asa.

Pagkabasa ng kautusan, nalungkot ang mga tao sa kanilang narinig, marahil dahil sa kanilang kalagayan ngunit sila ay pinaalalahanan ni Nehemiah na ang natatanging araw ay banal at dapat harapin ng may pagdiriwang at hindi ng kalungkutan o pag-iyak. Kaya’t ang mga tao ay humayo ng may pagdiriwang at kasiyahan. Sila ay kumain at uminom ng may pagbabahaginan (Nehemiah 8:12, MBBTAG). Ang bayan na nagtipon na “parang isang tao”; nakarinig at humugot ng pag-asa mula sa salita ng Diyos ay nagpatuloy sa kanilang pagbangon at pagdiriwang ng may pagkakaisa (solidarity).

Ang tunay na pagbangon mula sa isang krisis kailanman ay hindi maaaring gawin ng may pagkakanya-kanya. Tulad ng pagharap natin sa pandemya, hindi maaaring kumain at uminom ang iba habang patuloy ang pagdurusa ang marami. Napapansin ba natin kung paano tayo hinahati sa iba’t ibang panig tulad ng vaccinated at non-vaccinated (considering na mula noong nakaraang taon ay nakita natin kung paano ipinagdamot ng malalaking bansa ang supply ng bakuna). Dapat bang payagang lumabas ang mga hindi bakunado? Papasakayin ba sila sa mga pampublikong sasakyan at papapasukin sa mga pamilihan at tanggapan? Upang mabawasan ang risk ng hawahan, kailangan daw pigilan ang pagpasok ng mga provincial buses sa Metro Manila – makakatulong din daw ito para lumuwag ang traffic sa mga mayor na kalsada sa Kamaynilaan. Maluwag na kalsada para sa mga may sariling sasakyan, pahirap na pagb-byahe para sa mga wala. Sino ang mas may karapatan sa ayudang galing sa pamahalaan? Kailan natin ma re-realize na ang pagkakanya-kanya ay patuloy na magpapahina sa ating mga pamayanan at magpapahirap sa ating pagbangon?

Noong unang bahagi ng pagkalat ng COVID-19, naging matunog ang slogan/panawagan na “we heal as one”. Kasing kahulugan ito ng aralin mula sa sulat sa mga taga-Corinto, “Kung nasasaktan ang isang bahagi, nasasaktan ang lahat; kung pinaparangalan ang isang bahagi, nagagalak ang lahat.” (I Corinthians 12:26). Batid natin sa simula na habang may kahit isang bulnerable o nahawa ng virus mula sa ating komunidad, lahat tayo ay bulnerable at maaaring magkasakit. Nag-isolate tayo physically pero nagpatuloy ang pagkakaisa natin sa panawagan para sa social solidarity. Hindi natin maaaring harapin ang krisis ng magkakahiwalay. Wala dapat tayong iwan sa ating pagbangon. Hindi genuine ang pagbangon kung mayroong maiiwan. Ang tunay na better normal ay kapag tulad ng mga Israelita ay magagawa na nating magtipun tipon ng parang iisang tao at magbahaginan ng ating pagkain at pag-inom.

Sa pangwakas, sa diwa ng kaganapan ng misyon ni Hesus na kanyang binasa mula sa aklat ni Isaias (Lukas 4:18-19, MBBTAG), magsama-sama tayong ipanalangin at gawin ang pagpapalaya ng mga bilanggo (mga bilanggong politikal, bilanggo ng kawalan ng katarungan at bilanggo ng pandemya); magbigay liwanag sa mga hirap o hindi makakita (mga biktima ng fake news/misinformation tungkol sa tunay nating kalagayang pang-ekonomiya, pulitika, pangkalusugan at panlipunan); isama na rin natin ang mga advocates at tagapagpahayag ng katotohanang hina-harass at ni r-red tag; pagpapalaya sa mga inaapi (mga biktima ng domestic/gender-based violence, demolition/land grabbing, kahirapan, kawalan ng hanapbuhay at pagbabago ng klima); at ang pagpapahayag ng pagliligtas ng Panginoon para sa lahat.

Amen.

January 16, 2022*Second Sunday in Ordinary Time* They will be called “My Delight”

                                                    Sr. M. Gemma Dinglasan, RGS

https://chriscookart.net/author/madisonstudios/

Ps 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10

Is 62:1-5              

1 Cor 12:4-11     

Jn 2:1-11             

God is going to give his people a new name. They will be called “My Delight”.

The word delight was originated from Latin word delicere (delectare which means to charm) and from the Old French word delitier. In the 16^th Century, Old English added –gh– and associated it with the word light. So mixing charm and light, I prefer this phrase My Delight to be translated as “Aking Kahalihalinang Liwanag”

At this time of our life, will God also call us ‘Aking Kahalihalinang Liwanag’ as God called his chosen race My Delight? What can be the qualifications?

1. We are waiting for a messiah to bring the nation real progress where the poor will also have three meals a day.
2. There is rampant injustice. The gap between the poor and rich are getting bigger.
3. Authorities are serving themselves, forgetting the meaning of servant leadership or they do not know at all.
4. Corruption becomes a way of life.

I can add on and make a long list…

The gifts of the Spirit support this promise. That being God’s Delight, though we are suffering, God will supply us with wisdom, understanding, fortitude… gifts that will allow us to shine to be truly God’s Kahalihalinang Liwanag.

The story of the first miracle in Cana is a realization of  this promise. Jesus’ time has not yet come, but Mary knew that the fulfillment of that promise may come right away because God’s mercy is greater than time and God’s mercy knows no limit. Whatever our Bayang Magiliw is experiencing right now, we know that God’s promise is on its way to realization, Like Mary, we only need to trust and follow what He orders us to do. This coming local and national elections is our chance to listen to what God is telling us to do. Let us do our share and prove that we are the Kahalihalinang Liwanag. We can be that water that Jesus used to produce wine. Yes, we will all be wine!

January 9, 2022*The Baptism of the Lord* A Transitory Move, A Hunger for God and Conversion of Life

Weena Meily, Association of Women in Theology (AWIT)

Ps 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10
Is 42:1-4, 6-7
Acts 10:34-38
Lk 3:15-16, 21-22

https://pixels.com/featured/the-baptism-of-jesus-mike-moyers.html?product=art-print/The Baptism of Jesus Art Print  by Mike Moyers

As I write this, I am just about recovering from a seasonal flu. Hopefully. Uso daw kasi. Nakikiuso din ako. It is difficult to clear the head, because of some slight bouts of headache. There is good music though,playing on my Spotify. First Light In The Mountains (From the album The Enchanted Woods) by Robin Bullock. There is a light 16 kph wind blowing from the southeast. The native Climbing Roses love the cool afternoon breeze. I can see them swaying. Soon, the breeze slows down and I marvel at how wonderful plants, particularly flowers, could have given so much of their beauty for a short while, and soon shed it off. Just like how I feel now, soon the illness fades, my feeling of debility vanishes and I’m back to my feet again. Hopefully. The human body depends on cycles of movement, waxing and waning, active and resting. Indeed, life flourishes only to depend on humanity’s keeping. And as we hunger for food to nourish our bodies, there is a hunger for soul food to deeply nourish our spiritual life. Spiritual writer John Kirvan calls this God hunger.

Not many days ago, in the middle of December, at about the time church bells called devotees to the Misa De Gallo, and bibingka and puto bumbong wafted through the air of malamig na simoy ng hangin, I was called to move to another place of residence. Many days before this, as most were busy with Christmas preparations, I was busy not collecting and accumulating for this great feast, but I found myself doing otherwise. I was trimming down the things I will be bringing with me. I was down to four boxes. Including clothes and books! I can truly say, God works her way through one’s context. I was in deep financial crisis, I haven’t received any regular pension yet after retirement, my savings are dwindling, prices of essentials are rising, I am homeless and the good news is God knew all about this! To be invited by the Nazareth House-Catholic Worker in Malate, Manila is a gift. I asked Jesus, I continue to follow you, Lord, but just show me the way. When your heart is in tune with the song of God’s Will, she will touch hearts and finds a way to weave a beautiful, warm shawl, to wrap you in its embrace and secure love. This is my temporal refuge, as I discover ways to keep community and renew my commitment to this next journey of my elderly life, to continue satisfying my God hunger.

The Gospel story of Jesus’ Baptism is an “announcement”. It is “a call in the wilderness”, that invites us again and again to begin anew. When John the Baptist recognized Him, John was overcome with humility. “He must increase as I must decrease.” I must think less of me and more of others. I must worship less of me and more of God. I must now learn to shed off my ego that blinds my truth. The path to salvation now opens. Now, all of humanity is invited to partake of a fellowship of the good.
The Christmas Season ends liturgically today. But the message remains the same. We can begin again. Jesus has come, he has called us through this baptism of water, to cleanse us, to make us realize that God is giving us chances, every day, to renew our lives. This is conversion of life. Our falling and rising. That we all are good and that this good is within us all. When the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit
descended on Jesus with God’s voice heard over all of creation, it is a revelation of God’s anointing Presence. That in this world of violence, fear, anger, and hatred, we can choose to see the light and follow this Jesus, his wisdom, humility and lovingkindness prevailing over sin and death.
Our country is plunged into deep darkness, still in the midst of a Pandemic, as millions suffer extreme poverty, homelessness, lack of health care, lack of access to education and all other social illnesses. The presence of the erosion of democratic freedoms, daily reports of human rights violations, and the ongoing ‘war on drugs’ have deepened the divide amongst the people. Where is the joy and spirit of Christmas in the midst of all these? It is just fitting that “the most wonderful time of the year” ends on the Baptism of Jesus, at the Jordan, by John the Baptist. The Baptism story seals the promise of God of a savior. Emmanuel, God-With-Us, who became one of us, and lived among us, who knew the suffering of the people.
Because He has heard our cries. In the midst of these cries of mothers grieving the loss of their sons and daughters, of wives losing their husbands, and children who suffer terrible heartaches upon losing their mothers and fathers to these senseless killings in the name of the ‘war on drugs’, we rise up as a collective, cry out as a voice in the wilderness and tell the world that the good will prevail. The God of Justice will triumph. In the midst of all these, the Spirit of God will descend upon us and bring us peace that surpasses all understanding. “May the Lord give His people strength; may the Lord bless His people with peace.” (Ps 29: 11) May the Lord restore the Good in all of Creation.

To end, may I give you a New year’s Gift,

A Prayer for New Beginnings
Today, I ask the God-Of-Life,
Give me the grace sufficient for the day.

Today, I bind my self to the God-Of-Love,
Teach me how to love you as I should.

Today, I cling to the goodness of the God-Of-All-Good,
Cleanse my heart to prepare me for my work.

Today, I make decisions with the God-Of-Mindfulness,
Keep my thoughts calm and clear as I navigate my way.

Today, I walk the path with the God-Of-the-Journey,
May God’s Word be a lamp unto my feet.

Today I trek this passage with the God-Of-Acceptance,
May I answer the Call of Wisdom.

January 2, 2022*The Epiphany of the Lord* The Wise Defiance 

Dss. Norma P. Dollaga, KASIMBAYAN

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-event-1965-glenn-bautista.html

Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
Is 60:1-6
Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6
Mt 2:1-12

Today is Epiphany Sunday- the manifestation of Jesus Christ through the Magi. They were wise men, learned, educated and of noble birth. They were philosophers and seekers of knowledge and wisdom.
“The bright star didn’t guide them; it only told them when to set out. And they wouldn’t have found an infant swaddled in a manger. After all, the baby was already eight months old by the time they decoded the astrological message they believed predicted the birth of a future king.” (David A Weintraub, Can Astronomy Explain the Biblical Star of Bethlehem?, Dec.21, 2016). The STAR was the signal for them to travel and seek the child.

In the story the magi visited him. It was not in the manger, but in the house. The magi known to be experts in astronomy and astrology were among the visitors of Jesus. By the story of Matthew, it was not established if they were three magi. There were three gifts, but not necessarily three magi. But the numbers are not the issue here (though we have been comfortable with the tradition that there were three men who offered gifts).

They did not tell Herod who had a “murderous” plan against boys who were two years old and under(Matthew 2:16) . Herod was so furious and threatened with the power who might overrule him, so he ordered the killings. The bloody killings of children had etched a horrible mark in human memory.

A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.” (Matthew 2:18)

Jesus was saved from the mass killing order of Herod.

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” (Matthew2:19)

The death of Herod provided temporary relief on the massacres and execution of children and people. Anyone who would be a suspect to be rising against Herod,  suffered the ire of his tyranny.
Herod died; Jesus lives. Herod died at the time when he wanted to murder the Messiah. . According to historian Emil   Schürer, “Herod died at Jericho in B.C. 4, unwept by those of his own house, and hated by all the people.” Under such circumstances, the death of a tyrant would serve as a sigh of relief to the people. We could imagine that some or many people must be praying for his death.

Jesus’ birth reminds us of how poor families are treated and marginalized. The visit of the magi reminds us that the “epiphany” , the manifestation of Christ is not an exclusive privilege of the Jews, but an inclusive revelation for those who would acknowledge and honor him. The magi passed on to us wisdom – that is , it was wiser to defy the order of the king than to blindly obey him.

Too bad that there were children who were not rescued. While we are thankful that Jesus was saved,  we could also pause for a moment  and remember the children in the past and present who are sacrificed and killed as the state unsheathed its sword against perceived enemies.

Jesus lives FOREVER. Herod’s tyrannical rule was bound to fail. TRUTH, LOVE. JUSTICE, PEACE that embodies the mission of MESSIAH is bound to triumph.##