February 25, 2024*Second Sunday of Lent* Mangahas tayong umibig tulad ng pag-ibig ng Diyos

Fr.  Edprim Gaza, CM

https://musingsandwonderment.blog/2021/02/15/the-transfiguration-luke-928-36/

Gen. 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18   

Ps 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19   

Rom 8:31b-34

Mk 9:2-10

Nauso kamakailan ang mga katagang ‘Kung gusto mong gulatin, manlibre ka!’ ‘Kung gusto mong gulatin, magsimba ka!’ ‘Kung gusto mong gulatin, mag madre ka!’ at kung ano ano pa, pero kung gusto mong talagang magulat, mamalengke ka!

Dati sa Divisoria ako namamalengke para sa ipapakain sa mga bata sa aming parokya, ngayon sa Balintawak na ang bago kong palengke, para makamura. Pero kahit sa anumang malalaking palengke na ito, na pinaniniwalaan nating mura ay mahal parin ang mga bilihin. Mga presyong di kayang sumagi sa isip ko kung papaano ang isang pamilyang may dalawang anak, makakapagpakain ng masustansya para di magkasakit na halos umaabot sa langit presyo ng mga gulay, karne, isda lalu na ang bigas.

Ang ganitong kalagayan, ay nakakapaghamon na tunay na magulat at magbagong anyo.

Ang ikatlong linggo ng kuwaresma ay patungkol sa pagbabagong anyo ni Hesus habang nag darasal upang bigyang diin ang paparating na pagdiriwang ng Paskwa na nakaugat sa ating mga responsibilidad bilang mga binyagan. Sa pagbibinyag tayo ay nagbabago (sa mga isinusuuot na puting damit pambinyag) at nagiging mga anak ng Diyos, na kung saan nagkakaroon ng responsibilidad na tumugon sa nakadudungis sa dignidad ng ating pagkatao.

Kaya mungkahi ko na pagnilayan ang dalawang bagay na makakatulong di lamang sa pagbabago ng ating anyo ngunit sa pagbabago ng ating kalagayan upang mabago rin ang buhay ng iba lalu na ng aba. Una, buo ba ang ating loob upang mag alay ng sarili? At ikalawa, kaya ba nating mag ambag para sa iba?

Si Hesus sa kanyang pagdarasal ayon sa binasa mula sa aklat ni San Marcos, ay nagpanibagong anyo dulot ng kanyang taimtim na pagdarasal. Batid natin na bilang mga mananampalataya ang pagdarasal sa panahon ng kuwaresma ay bahagi ng ating mga responsibilidad, upang mahubog ang ating puso sa paggawa ng kusang pagtitiis at kawang gawa, upang ang iba’y dumanas ng katiting na ginhawa. 

Malaki ang tukso na ang pagdiriwang ng kuwaresma ay para sa sariling kaligtasan, sariling pagtitika, sariling pag unlad ng spirituwalidad, nakatuon sa personal na ugnayan natin sa Diyos, upang mapabuti ang sarili natin o di kaya mapabuti ang kalagayan ng ating pamilya. Si Abraham sa unang binasa sa Genesis ay nagpakita na kaya niyang sundin ang Diyos kahit ito ay pag-aalay ng kanyang mahal na anak.

Marami sa atin ang gumugugol ng panahon upang ikayod ang mga anak, upang hindi makaramdam ng hirap, iniiwas natin sila upang di maranasan ang ating pinag daanang kahirapan. Subalit ang ating kalagayan ay mapanghamon, na habang tayo ay nagbabata para sa ating pamilya maraming pamilyang Filipino ang dumaranas ng hirap, na kailangan paglingkuran natin at ng ating mga anak. Nag aanyayang ialay natin ang ating mga anak upang sila ang paglingkuran sa pagdating ng panahon. Imulat sila sa katotohanan at kalagayan ng mahihirap na humahamon upang huwag maging makasarili at matutunan mag alay ng sarili para sa iba lalu na sa aba.

Sa ikalawang binasa muling nag paalala si San Pablo sa mga taga-Roma pawiin ang ating pag-aalinlangan sa pagbibigay ng sarili.

Malaki ang tuksong mangamba, matakot, mag-alinlangan, na baka walang maging magandang maidudulot ang pag aambag ng sarili para sa iba lalung lalo na sa mga aba. Baka mahamak lamang, bilang mga binyagan, ipinapaalala sa atin na tayo may huwaran sa pagbibigay ng sarili na hindi pinbayaan mismo ng Diyos ang kanyang nag iisang Anak kahit kamatayan ay dinanas. Malaki ang aral na ibinigay sa atin ni Hesus ang anak ng Diyos, nag sakripisyo at namatay para sa atin upang mapagtagumpayan ang kamatayan.

Sa bawat mga anak na nag aambag ng sarili para sa bayan ay napagtatagumpayan ang kamatayan, at nagdudulot ng pagkabuhay ng pag-asa sa mga nalulukuban ng kadiliman ng kawalang katarungan.

Ang kapangahasan ng mga sumusunod kay Hesus na tunay na nagdarasal tulad ng kanyang pagdarasal ay nagiging mapangahas na tahakin ang daan na kanyang dinaanan, ang magpahayag na malapit na ang paghahari ng Diyos sa mga inaapi at iginigilid sa lipunan. Ang mangahas na baguhin ang kalagayan upang dumanas ng pagbabago ang iba.

Gusto nating manggulat? Mangahas tayong umibig tulad ng pag-ibig ng Diyos.

February 18, 2024*First Sunday of Lent*Do not Be Deceived , ChaCha in My Mind

Rev. Homar Distajo, UCCP

9:8-15

Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9.

1 Pt 3:18-22

Mk 1:12-15

As we observe the first Sunday of Lent, our reflections are deeply intertwined with Biblical texts of Genesis 9:8-15, Psalms 25:4-9, 1 Peter 3:18-22, and Mark 1:12-15. These passages invite us to journey inward, meditate, and act in solidarity with our communities, especially amidst the looming prospect of Charter Change in the Philippines.

GENESIS 9:8-15: A Covenant of Hope

The story of God’s covenant with Noah and all living creatures, symbolized by the rainbow, serves as a beacon of hope amidst uncertainty. In the face of pending Charter Change, which threatens the stability and integrity of our nation, this narrative reminds us of God’s unwavering promise to uphold justice and righteousness. Just as God preserved Noah and his family through the flood, so too can we trust in God’s faithfulness to guide and protect us through tumultuous times.

PSALMS 25:4-9: Seeking Divine Guidance

The psalmist’s plea for guidance and redemption resonates with our collective desire for wisdom and discernment in the midst of political upheaval. As we navigate the complexities of Charter Change, we turn to God, trusting in God’s mercy and steadfast love to lead us on the path of righteousness. Let us pray for clarity of vision and courage to stand firm in defense of our nation’s sovereignty and patrimony.

1 PETER 3:18-22: Baptism and Spiritual Renewal

Peter’s epistle speaks of baptism as a symbol of salvation and spiritual renewal. In the face of impending change, we are called to renew our commitment to justice, truth, and peace. Through the waters of baptism, we are united with Christ in His death and resurrection, empowering us to resist oppression and advocate for the common good. Let us draw strength from our baptismal identity as we strive to protect the rights and dignity of all Filipinos.

MARK 1:12-15: Temptation and Proclamation of the Kingdom

In Mark’s Gospel, we witness Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness and His proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Like Jesus, we are confronted with temptations and challenges that threatens to divert us from our mission of justice and solidarity. Yet Jesus’ resolute proclamation of the Kingdom reminds us of our calling to resist injustice and work towards a society rooted in love and compassion. Let us emulate Jesus’ courage and commitment to righteousness as we confront the deceptive allure of Charter Change.

Weaving  through the Lectionary readings

In light of the impending threat of Charter Change, it is incumbent upon us as Christians to stand firm in defense of our nation’s sovereignty and patrimony. The proposed changes to the constitution, driven by self-serving interests of the ruling elite, pose a grave danger to the welfare of the Filipino people. As members of the church, we are called to expose the deception and advocate for truth, justice, and peace.

Faith communities should echo the resounding call to say NO TO CHARTER CHANGE. We stand united in our commitment to uphold the 1987 Philippine Constitution as a safeguard against tyranny and oppression. Let us raise our voices in solidarity with the toiling majority of the Philippines, affirming our collective determination to protect, guard, and defend our nation’s sovereignty and patrimony.

As we journey through the season of Lent, let us carry with us the lessons and teachings of Scriptures, drawing inspiration from the narratives of hope, resilience, and liberation. May our reflections lead us to action, as we work tirelessly to build a society founded on the principles of truth, justice, and peace. Amen.

February 11, 2024*Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time* Of Faith and Restoration

           Geraldino B. Loyola Jr. Redemptorist Lay Missionary

https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/41543

Lv 131-2, 44-46

Ps 321-2, 5, 11

1 Cor 10:31–11:1

Mk 1:40-45

Leprosy is an ancient disease that still baffles the world. According to the recent World Health Organization report, leprosy is a curable disease. WHO further declared that treatment in the early stages of leprosy can prevent disability. Apart from the physical deformity, persons affected by leprosy also face stigmatization and discrimination.

Yes, we might have survived the many deadly ailments like COVID-19, yet we are still plagued with so many social ills that are equally lethal and harmful not only to society but to the rest of creation. I’m speaking of the current economic, political and cultural systems that continue to oppress the poor and destroy the environment. These systems are like infectious bacteria that disrupt harmony and render useless the justness of creation. And to make it worst, those in authority don’t see present social systems as oppressive. Implicitly, we are being made to accept that they are simply the way things are.

Three days from now, on Ash Wednesday, Christians will enter the season of Lent. And I guess it fits well to talk about sickness and the need for wholeness in order to celebrate meaningfully the season of PRAYER, FASTING and WORKS OF CHARITY. The season of Lent, invites us to recognize our sickness and the feeling of ostracization as a person living with leprosy.

Jesus’ empathy and solidarity has overturned the unscientific, selfish and misplaced attitude and action towards sickness and sin. “Jesus touched the man afflicted with leprosy.” This is an act that is totally abhorrent to the purity culture of the Jewish people. Jesus,  took the radical step, was defiant of the social order. The leper himself did not expect it coming, as he said, “if you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus could have healed him at a distance, without touching him. But he chose to do what is beyond (and against) his culture by being non-discriminating and unconditional as God’s love is unconditional.

To be sick, such as being afflicted with leprosy, is not always associated with being sinful. Similarly, the ills of our society such as hunger and poverty are not always due to the sins of the hungry and poor. Poverty is largely caused by unjust systems, wars and famine, thus people who are poor are victims and not the culprit.

Finally, at the heart of the gospel today, we witness healing and restoration. The person with leprosy was restored and reconciled to the community. The leper was liberated from isolation or separation. God’s salvation restores, reconciles and liberates. We are called to be agents of restoration, reconciliation and liberation. And as Paul has expressed in his letter to the Corinthians, “… everything we do be for the glory and praise of our loving, just and righteous God” (I Corinthians 10:31b). Amen.

February 4, 2024Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time*Where will our healing take us?

Rev. Riva Tabelisma,  United Methodist Church

https://contemplativevision.wordpress.com/tag/prayer/

Jb 7:1-4, 6-7 7:1-4, 6-7

Ps 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23

Mk 1:29-39

  Have you ever binged watched a show? In 2017, I was introduced to Netflix, and I found myself watching shows episode after episode. On many occasions, I would stay up to 3-4 in the morning. But I eventually grew tired of it, so I stopped. The gospel of Mark is like a series. The storytelling is continuous, and if it will be a tv show, I think it will be binge-worthy. But unlike the other gospels, Mark’s version is more like a movie-trailer type, fast-paced and short. Short enough to catch your interest to want to see it if it were a movie. The author of the gospel of Mark has written the script intricately to catch our attention.

More than the cinematic genius of the gospel of Mark, there are also other interesting points in today’s passage, and I am inviting you to dig into these interesting points. The first interesting point that I saw in this passage is the motion of Jesus’ ministry. Verses 29-31 talks about how the ministry moved from being in the synagogue which talks about the preaching ministry to healing of Simon’s mother-in-law to the house of Simon and Andrew. She was unnamed as how we would expect from a patristic/patriarchal society. A society which sees women in a lower status than men. But there are compelling pieces of this narrative. The first compelling piece that caught my attention is how Jesus healed her. Jesus touched her to heal her. If we are to delve into this act, this shows completeness in a different level. If we are to remember the creation story, God commanded the whole of creation except for mankind as written in Genesis 2:7. And we all know that the creation of mankind was the completion of God’s ‘task’. In a way, Jesus completed a task to heal a sick woman by touching her. Asians believe that there is a healing component when a person’s skin touches another. It has something to do with the energy of one person being transferred to another when they touch. This is why therapies like acupressure and reiki are prevalent among Asian cultures. Several articles in the internet said that many NICUs apply gentle touches to premature infants and this had helped the babies tremendously. Child psychologists also connect the importance of parents’ appropriate touches to the development of the children. It is unfortunate though that CoVid changed all of these, and we had to be creative in employing ‘healing touches’ to others.

The second point that I have learned in this passage is how the ministry of Jesus and the disciples moved from the synagogue to the house. In ancient Jewish tradition, the synagogue and the house are the backbone of what makes a community. I find this motion very dynamic, that from the synagogue where the preaching occurred, Jesus went to a person’s house in order to perform healing that inspired Simon’s mother-in-law to serve the people. Isn’t this a model of ministry and discipleship? What does this account mean to you? Can this be a meaningful story, or just a story that we will read/listen, marvel, and then forget? Another interesting chunk that I saw in this part of the passage is the fact that Simon’s mother-in-law was motivated to serve others after experiencing healing. Her healing did not stop when the fever left her. When she felt better, she saw the need to serve Jesus and the others. She found her wholeness in the healing that she received in Jesus, and she took it upon herself to be the hands and the feet of God and Jesus. How about us, where does our healing take us? Which kind of service are we being called?

I mentioned earlier that this passage was written in a time when women had a lower status compared to men.  There is a great value why the author of Mark’s gospel saw the need to amplify the fact that Jesus healed her by means of touching her. If we are to remember last week’s passage, Jesus cured the man with an unclean spirit by means of words. Verse 25 mentioned that Jesus rebuked the man to command the unclean spirit to leave the person. Jesus cured the man with words and cured the woman with a touch.  I see this as Jesus showing preference to those who are marginalized. A teaching of Jesus that we know has been mentioned in many places in the gospels. Instead of just uttering words of healing for Simon’s mother-in-law, Jesus took her hand, lifted her to heal her. This happened at the time in history when women considered marginalized.

The third point of this passage that draws me to reflection is the scene of Jesus praying at a deserted place. There was an instance back in the Philippines – maybe in 2008, the United Methodist Church in the Philippines was in a very difficult situation. I will not go into the details of that situation…maybe in the future. So this is my point…I was having a conversation with a friend – who happened to be a pastor, I was not even considering seminary at that time. In our conversation, he said, now is the time to pray for guidance. I felt frustration and was speechless. But I gathered my strength and told him, or more like reprimanded him, ‘Are you telling me that this is the only time to pray?’ And went on – ‘So we only need to pray when we are in distress? Isn’t prayer supposed to be part of a Christian’s life?’ Those were my statements to him. I am not here to judge your prayer life. In the Wesleyan tradition, that is part of your personal holiness. Prayer and praying should be part of your spiritual sustenance. This is the case with Jesus, too. In different places in the life of Jesus, we will see how prayer has been part of his lifestyle. In fact, I personally feel that it is his time to recharge because he has a practice of praying by himself. This is also a time for him to be vulnerable with God, and even cried out his fears to God. But it is also important to note that more than praying, the ministry of Jesus moved from different places, preaching about love and healing those who are sick. Not to mention how Jesus became the voice of the voiceless, and the strength for those who are weak because they are in the margins.

As followers of Jesus, we are being called to follow him – his teaching and life. As humans, we all experienced the healing that Jesus offered to the world. We are called to embody the life of Jesus – to be the voice and the voiceless, and the strength of the weak. Hopefully, as we receive our healing, it will also give us the strength, courage and fortitude to go forth to the world and share our healing to the world.