Making Through The Storm

Making it through the storm

(Based on the Sunday Gospel Commentary of Nil Guillemette)

I tried some reading on the geography of the Sea of Galilee, and they say, its geographical make-up is quite unique. The surface of the sea is 685 feet below the level of the Mediterranean Sea, since the Jordan Valley, in which it lies, has there sunk to such a depth. On the other hand, high hills surround it on almost all its sides. This means that there is usually a great difference of temperature between the air on the top of the plateaus surrounding the sea and the air on the low-lying water. When a strong wind blows from the north-eastern high plateau of the Syrian desert, which is some 3000 feet about sea level, the rush of cold air falling on the surface of the sea and the rush of hot air rising under this pressure produce a vertical air flow or convection current of great power. The results of this are sudden, violent storms, which agitate the Sea of Galilee in a most frightful fashion. Thus, terrible squalls hurl themselves, even when the sky is perfectly clear, upon these waters, which are ordinarily so calm. The storms come literally unexpectedly, and the most experienced fishermen cannot predict them. Such storms can produce waves up to 20 feet high or more.

Today’s gospel reading reports such a storm, one that came with shattering and terrifying suddenness. It mentions that Jesus was occupying in Peter’s boat the placed reserved for any distinguished guest. As the Gospel puts it, “Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.” (It must be a very comfortable place indeed.) Not only that, exhausted by a day of preaching, Jesus was asleep when the storm broke out and he continued to sleep soundly until the disciples woke him up. And we know that he calmed it down.

A noted bible scholar Nil Guillemette, would say that this story was written or preserved for two obvious reasons (obvious at least for himself). First, it illustrated the power of Jesus over nature and indirectly therefore, hinted his true identity. The Bible often presents God as ruling the storms of the sea (Ps 107:23-30; 89:9; 29:3; 46:3; 93:3-4; Nah 1:4; Hab 3:15; Jb 38:8-11). Now, the fact that Jesus could command the sea showed that he shared the very power of God – in other words, that he somehow belonged to the sphere of the divine.

The second reason is its symbolic value. Peter, let us recall, was a fisherman whom Jesus called to become fisher of men (Mk 1:17). As head of the Church founded by Christ, the boat he steers becomes an image of the Church. And, consequently, the storms he meets become symbols of the various storms and crises of the Church. To complete the picture in this connection, the sleeping Christ represents the apparent absence or non-intervention of God during times of persecutions, schisms, heresies. However, the awakening and storm-calming Christ represents the eventual overcoming of crises by the powerful intervention of God through unforeseen events or through the raising up of great saints and charismatic leaders in the Church.

This scene was highly inspiring to Mark and the readers of his gospel. Mark wrote this gospel between the years 65 to 70 according to the almost unanimous opinion of the experts. Now that was at the time of the first Roman persecution of the Church, the one launched between 64 and 68 by the cruel Emperor Nero. Both the apostles Peter and Paul perished in that persecution, along with many other leaders of the Church. (So, the early Christians were asking): Where was God in all this? Why was he permitting all this bloodshed? Was he asleep amid the storm? Mark, by reporting this episode of the calming of the storm, was reassuring the storm-tossed Church of Rome. He was saying in effect: “Christ might seem to be sleeping now, but do not worry. One of these days he will wake up and calm the storm.” Mark was right. In the year 68 Nero committed suicide and the storm abruptly ended.

In the course history, the Church has experienced many storms such as persecutions, controversies that involve money and sexual scandals. However, it is not only the church as a whole that experiences storms and crises, the church as an individual, we too, ourselves, have and experience a lot of storms and crises in our lives. Very common among them is financial crises, in the form of debts, loss of jobs, bankruptcy among others. In addition, we encounter relationship crises, marriage crises and/or family crises. A lot of my classmates in HS who are married are having difficulties in their marriage, and that’s becomes my problem as well, because, even if I am in Congo, they would call or email me to just to tell me and consult about their marriage problems. Many think that priests are lucky because they have none of these problems. Yes it is true we have none of the many of your concerns like raising children or an unfaithful husband or wife, unless, we keep one. But we too encounter a lot of problems in our work, with our co-priests and even with ourselves, that is why, there are those who are living the priesthood.

My dear brothers and sisters, the fact is, there is no way we can avoid storms in life. There will always be storms coming on us because we are living in a not so perfect world. Given our imperfect situation, it is up to us, it is left on our hands to make the best of out of these limitations. I very well remember what the Chinese often used to say in trying moments: “Crises are not something to be avoided but are opportunities to be exploited.” Simply said, crises, difficult situations are opportunities, opportunities to renew and strengthen relationship, opportunities for us to discover and exploit our hidden talents and skills and opportunities to fully develop ourselves. I believe this is also, how God suggests us to see trying moments in our lives.

It is here that I am reminded of Ray Charles, a renowned Gospel singer in US, a man whose songs are filled with emotions, who collected for himself numerous musical awards counting among them several Grammys. He is considered an icon in the word of music, a genius in fact, so much so that a film is made out of his extraordinary life. Like all of us, he too was knocked down by a storm, a really hard one. At the age of six, he was completely blinded. But that did not stop him from becoming one of the greatest musicians of our time, one that many considers a genius, who inspired others with his songs for God.

We are not blind like Ray Charles, if Charles did make it through the storm, the more it would be so for us. The gospel story should then inspire us during and amidst the storms of life. However violent and frightening they may be, we must trust that God is always at our side. True, he might wait a bit before intervening, for his own good reasons. But if we pray for his help and trust in him, we will always be given the strength and the courage to weather our storms. With him on board our boat, there is nothing to fear.

An Experience of God as Trinity
Arnold C. Biago, SVD

Sa pelikulang Star Wars ni George Lucas ang sinasabi nilang greetings ay, “May the force be with You!” Ang gandang pakinggan no! Anu kaya kung gamitin natin yan sa Misa at sabihin ko sa inyo, “The force be with you, and may the force bless you in the name of George Lucas, the Jedi group and whoever will they be…” Hindi lang ito nakakatawa at walang kahulugan para sa atin kundi isa rin itong blasphemy—paglalaro sa pangalan ng Dios. Para sa atin mga Kristyano, ang Dios ay higit pa sa isang kathang isip o ideya sa Siyensya na ang nakikita ay walang iba kundi “matter” at “energy”. Kundi ang Diyos ay Maykapal na makapangyarihan sa lahat na may gawa ng langit at lupa. Hindi lang yan, para sa ating ang Diyos ay nagkatawang tao at nakipamuhay sa atin, si Hesus na manunubos. Ang Diyos din ay patuloy na nakikiisa sa atin sa pamamagitan ng kanilang Banal na Espiritu, ang Espiritu na mula sa Ama at Anak. Kaya ang turing natin sa Diyos ay Pag-ibig.

Sa isang International School sa Singapore ay nag didiscuss ang dalawang bata habang nag snacks sa School Canteen. Ang isa ay Anak ng isang Catholic Diplomat na Pinoy at sa naman ay anak ng isang American diplomat na Jew. Tinanong ng batang Jew ang batang Pinoy na Catholic, “What is that words you say before you eat, ‘In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’?” Ang sabi ng batang Pinoy, “I thank God who gives me this food and ask him to bless it, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” “You mean, you have three gods?” Sagot ng batang Pinoy, “We have only one God” Sabi uli ng batang Jew. “No you have three gods, one who is Father, one who is Son and one who is Spirit, this is what we learn in Math, 1 + 1 + 1 = 3.” Ang sagot naman ng batang Pinoy “Your Math has not improved, its not addition that we use here but multiplication, 1 x 1 x 1 = 1, right?”

Ang Banal na Santatlo ay di ganap na maipapaliwanag at maiintindihan kung gagamit lamang ng addition kundi kailangan nito ay multiplication. Ang imumultiply ay hindi ang Diyos kundi ang sarili na ito ay maging bukas na maranasan ang Diyos bilang Ama na may likha ng lahat. Tatlo sa tinatawag na “great world religions” ang nagkakaisa sa paniniwalang ang Dios ang may-likha ng lahat, ang mga Kristyanismo, Islam at Judaismo. Subalit para sa atin mga Kristiyano, dahil sa dakilang pag-ibig ng Diyos Ama sa kanyang mga nilikha ay sinugo niya ang kanyang Nag-iisang Anak para ibalik sa kanyang piling ang kanyang mga nilikha. Kaya ang Diyos ay naging Tao at nakipamuhay sa atin bilang ating manunubos, si Hesus. Sa pamamagitan niya nakilala ng tao ng lubos ang Diyos at ganap niyang naranasan ang kanyang pag-ibig. Saan mo makikita ang isang Amang iniaalay ang kanyang sariling Anak para sa kaligtasan ng lahat? Ito ang tatak ng ating pananampalataya, si Kristo na nag-alay ng kanyang sarili. Hindi pa diyan nagtatapos ang kasaysayan ng pagmamahal ng Diyos sa tao. Ibinigay ng Diyos ang Espiritu ng Ama at ng Anak para manatili sa piling ng Tao. Kaya nang bumalik sa piling ang Ama ang Anak nanatili kasama natin ang Diyos, ang Banal na Espiritu bilang ating gabay. Ang lahat ng ito ay naganap nang dahil sa pag-ibig ng Diyos. Kung magkagayon, ang tatlong persona ng nag-iisang Diyos ang natatanging paraan ng mga Kristiyano na isalarawan ang kanyang karanasan ng pag-ibig ng Diyos bilang Ama, Anak at Banal ng Espiritu.

May nakilala akong isang pamilya, mga sampung taon na ang nakaraan. Ang mag-asawang ito ay taga-Mindanao, sa Surigao at siyam ang kanilang anak. Ang tatay ng pamilyang ito ay napakareligious. Isa sa mga malimit niyang dinadasal sa Diyos ay pasasalamat. Pinasasalamatan niya ang Diyos sa pagkakaloob sa kanilang mag-asawa ng siyam na anak. Ito ay testimonya ng kanyang pagkakilala sa Diyos bilang maylika ng lahat.

Ang siyam na kapatid na ito lahat ay nagsumikap na makapag-aral dahil alam nilang na wala namang maipamanang mga ari-arian ang kanilang magulang. Nang matapos ang kanilang kuya sa high school ito ay nagtrabaho sa Cebu at nag-ipon ng pera para gastusin sa pag-aaral ng sumunod sa kanya na kapatid. Nang matapos siya at nakapag-trabaho ito naman ang tumustos sa pag-aaral ng kanyang kuya. Yung ibang mga kapatid nila ay ganun din ang ginawa, nag-partner partner sila, isa ang nagtatarabaho para makapag-aral ang isa. Ang ginawa nilang pagsasakrispisyo para sa kapatid ay pagsasabuhay ng sariling pag-aalay ni Hesus ng kanyang sarili para sa ating kaligtasan, ang pinakadakilang sakrispisyo.

Anu ngayon ang nangyari sa isa na walang kapartner sa siyam na magkakapatid. Siya po ay naging pari ng SVD at sa kanya namin narinig itong kwento ng kanilang pamilya. Sabi niya, ito ang dahilang kung bakit siya nagpari, nainspire siya sa kanyang mga magulang na ibinigay lahat sa kanila at sa kanyang kapatid na nagbibigayan at handang iaalay ang sarili sa iba. Ganito naman ang Banal na Espiritu, “source of inspiration”, nabibigay lakas at tatag. (one that empowers).

Sa isang bukas na sarili at mulat na puso ang Diyos mararanasan bilang Ama, Anak at Banal na Espiritu na ipinakilala ni Hesus at ating makikita mula sa ating mga sariling karanasan. Ito ang ating idalangin na patuloy nating maranasan ang Diyos na mapagmahal sa ating kapwa.

Transfiguration

Usually, newly wed couples would have the best experience of their lives on their wedding day. They are the most sought after couple as almost all would come to greet them wearing their best smiles. “Congratulations!” This is one wonderful experience that the couple would like to prolong and extend as they want to savor the moment and enjoy the time they are in high spirit.

In the event of the Transfiguration, Peter with James and John was also in the high spirit. He had the best experience of Jesus as the Son of God and he too wanted to prolong it. The feeling was so sweet in there that he wanted Jesus to stay as is, “Lord, it is good that we are here.”But the joy the Peter experienced is connected with his experience of the glorious God in Jesus who is destined to suffer and die on the cross for our sake. For this Peter was to be afraid.

It must be remembered that in the early part of the Gospel Jesus rebuked Peter because he does not want Jesus to undergo suffering, “Never Lord, this will not happen to you.” So when it was revealed to him in the transfiguration that Jesus, the Son of God will have to suffer and die on the cross, Peter tremble in fear not of pain and death but of the great sacrifice and love the Lord has to take because of us. In other words, Peter too experience transfiguration in himself as his view of the Lordship of Jesus changed with his transfiguration experience of the Lord.

Like Peter, we too are privileged to constantly experience a transfiguration of the Lord everytime we celebrate the Eucharist. When we break the bread and receive the body of Christ in Holy Communion we share in the fruits of Christ's great sacrifice on the cross. Hopefully, like Peter, as we behold the body of Christ we will tremble before God’s great act of love, the God who humbled himself to become like us and allowed himself to be broken as bread for us to partake. Let us then tremble not out of fear but out of gratitude for such great privilege to be loved by Jesus, the Son of God.

But our transfiguration experience does not end in the Eucharist. Rather it begins here in our call to live out and practice our faith so that our relationship will itself be transformed and permeated by Christ. Moreover, our transfiguration experience continued as we respond to the call of proclaiming our faith to others, of sharing this great story of God who out of his great love allowed himself to suffer and die for our sake. What we practice and proclaim is our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God who love us most. Amen.

4th Sunday of Ordinary Time

HAPPY IS BLESSED
Rev. ARNOLD C. BIAGO, SVD

What we have heard proclaimed in our Gospel today is the famous 8 beatitudes which speaks about those who are blessed. In others versions of the Bible, the word used instead of blessed is happy. I believe there is an equally valid reason for such translation. Since someone who is blessed is one that is significantly happy.

Let me share with you an anecdote of a boy which was interestingly entitled “Secrets of Hapiness” told by a Rabbi: A young man once came to meet me in Jerusalem. He had an unusually happy disposition, so I asked him what's his secret. He told me:

"When I was 11 years old, I received a gift of happiness from God.
"I was riding my bicycle when a strong gust of wind blew me onto the ground into the path of an oncoming truck. The truck ran over me and cut off my leg.

"As I lay there bleeding, I realized that I might have to live the rest of my life without a leg. How depressing! But then I realized that being depressed won't get my leg back. So I decided right then and there not to waste my life despairing.

"When my parents arrived at the hospital they were shocked and grieving. So I told them: 'I've already adapted. Now you also have to get used to this.'
"Ever since then, I see my friends getting upset over little things: their bus came late, they got a bad grade on a test, somebody insulted them. But I just enjoy life.

At age 11, this young man attained the clarity that it is a waste of energy to focus on what you are missing. And that the key to happiness is to take pleasure in what you have. Sounds simple, doesn't it? So why are so many people unhappy?

After reading this anecdote, I noticed that the situation of the happy boy is as worse as what is described as blessed in our Gospel today. Yet in both ways, the boy is said to be happy and those in difficult situations in the beatitudes are noted to be blessed.

By our common and worldly standards, having lost a leg is certainly not something we will be very happy about. Yet the boy was happy. In the same way, being poor, persecuted, oppressed and in some other difficult situation is not a cause for rejoicing. What then constitutes happiness? How come we say that a desperate situation is blessed.

What was said in our anecdotes is very enlightening: “The key to happiness is to take pleasure in what you have.” In other words, happiness is not all about having this and having that or doing this or that. Rather happiness is being in such a positive disposition in a particular situation no matter what it is. In a very secular outlook, they say, it is a state of mind. Actually, this is not altogether secular for this being is being with God, this state of mind is a life centered or focused on God similar to what the beatitude calls blessed. They are blessed who inspite of the difficult situation remains and clings to God.

Like the situation of the boy, what the beatitudes describes is by no means a cause for rejoicing judging from our human standards. How in the world can we justify that someone tortured, harassed, in desperate need and self-sacrificing is blessed indeed? The world will certainly thinks that we are crazy. What makes their situation blessed is no the poverty itself, nor the pain and suffering inflicted on them by others but the sense of hope, their firm confidence in God in the midst of the troubles that surround them. These people described by the beatitudes might be lacking in material resources like money and power but they are rich of faith, hope and the love of God.

Being blessed is in many ways like happiness. To be blessed is not to have this and to have that but rather it is being… it is being with God, the best that is there for us. If God is at the center of our lives, we got is all, in Pilipino it sounds better: “Sa piling ng Dios wala ka ng hahanapin pa.” Indeed, by being with God we are truly blessed.

25th Sunday of ORDINARY Time C

Yaman, isang bukas na kalooban

Ang isang anim na taong gulang na batang babae ay pumunta sa isang malaking bangko at gustong makipagusap sa bank manager. Buti na lang andun ang isang mabait na clerk, kaya dinala siya nito sa pribadong opisina ng manager ng banko. Sa harap nito sinabi niya ang kanyang sadya: “kami po ng aking mga classmates ay naghahanda para sa isang Christmas party para sa mga batang katulad namin ang edad. Hihilingin po sana namin ang iyong tulong.”

May kabaitan din naman ang manager ng banko kaya, inilabas at ipinatong niya sa kanyang mesa ang isang sanlibong papel at isang sampong pisong barya, sa pag-aakalang di pag-iinteresan ng bata ang papel na pera. Kanyang sinabi, “Iha, pili ka ng isa.”

Dinampot ng bata una ang sampong pisong barya, at sinabi: “Turo po sa akin ng Nanay ko ay laging piliin ang pinakamaliit.” Pero kinuha rin niya ang sanlibong pisong papel at sinabi, “Para hindi ko mawala ang baryang ito ay babalutin ko na lang po siya ng papel.”

Matalino ang batang ito sa ating kwento. Marunong siyang humawak ng pera. Sa ebanghelyo natin ngayon ay pinaaalalahanan tayo ng tamang paggamit ng pera o yaman. Tatlong bagay ang dapat nating tandaan kung tayo ay may hawak na pera o yaman.

Una, hindi atin ang pera o yaman. Iba ang may-ari nito. Tayo ay mga katiwala lamang sabi sa ebanghelyo, na maaring anumang oras ay ilipat ng may ari sa iba. Ito din ay paulit-ulit na ipinapangaral ng mga Obispo at Santo Papa. Katulad na lang ng Solicitudu Rei Socialis, ipinangaral ng Santo Papa na ang anumang bagay na sobra sa iyong pangangailangan ay hindi mo na pag-aari, ito ay laan para sa pangangailangan ng iba lalo na ng mga dukha. Sa Ingles ito ay tinatawag na “universal destination of the material goods” – ibig sabihin ang yaman ay para sa lahat. Ito ay bahagi ng Social Teachings or Doctrines of the Church, sabi nila the best kept secret of the Church. Pero kung tutousin, ito ay hindi naman talaga sekreto, sa katunayan, ito ay aking naranasan noong ako’y tumira ng dalawang linggo sa bundok ng Mindoro kasama ang mga Mangyan. Pauwi kami noon galing sa pagkakaingin at pagtatanim ng luya. Sa daan may nakita kaming puno ng bayabas. Siyempre gutom mula sa pagbubungkal na lupa, ako at ang aking kasama ay nakipag unahan sa mga bata sa pangunguha ng bunga. Di pa namin nakukuha lahat ay bigla na lang tumigil ang mga batang Mangyan: “Sabi namin, kunin natin lahat, sayang.” Pero sabi nila, “Huwag Frater. Magtira po tayo, baka may iba pang daraan. Gutom din po sila.” Napahiya po kaming mga seminarista, sapagkat tinuturuan kami ng mga batang Mangyan ng Social Responsibility. Hindi man sila nag-aaral ay alam at isinasabuhay nila ang turo ng simbahan, na anumang bagay o yaman na higit sa ating pangangailangan ay para sa lahat.

Pangalawa, huwag maging gahaman sa pera o yaman. “Aray ko po Pader... natamaan ako...” “Pader naman, pinaparinggan mu ata kami...” Huwag kayong mag-alala. Hindi kayo nag-iisa. Kahit noon pa man. Marami nang gahaman sa pera o yaman. Sa katunayan, si propeta Amos ay nagkakandailiti sa galit sa mga mayayamang Israelita noong panahon niya. Sa sobrang ganid at sakim sa kanilang kayamanan, akalain n’yo ba namang ipagyabang na tutubusin nila sa pagkaalipin ang isang tao sa halaga ng isang pares na tsinelas. Noon, hanggang ngayon at patuloy ang kasakiman ng tao sa yaman. Kaya, patuloy ding nagiging matalim ang turo ni Hesus na nagtatakwil sa mga gahaman at sakim sa pera at yaman, na walang inaatupag kundi ang magpakasarap. Ito ay siya nating maririning sa ebanghelyo sa darating na linggo.

Pangatlo, gamitin ng tama ang pera at yaman. Huwag waldasin, kundi gamitin ito para magkaroon ng bahagi sa kaharian ng Dios. Ito ang nais ipalaala sa atin ng talinghaga sa ating ebanghelyo tungkol sa matalino at matinik na tagapamahala. Ginamit niya ang ipinagkatiwalang ari-arian para masiguro ang kanyang sariling kinabukasan. Tulad ng tagpamahala, nais ni Hesus na gamitin din ng mga anak ng Dios ang yaman sa paglapit sa Dios. Papaanu?... Ipamahagi ito... Kundi baka ito ay maging pabigat lamang. Sabi nga ni Hesus, “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”

Muli, ipinaaalala sa atin ng mga pagbasa na ang pera at yaman ay 1) hindi natin pag-aari 2) huwag maging gahaman sa pera at 3) ipamahagi ang yaman. Sa English ang tawag dito ay GENEROSITY. Sa Tagalog, pweding sabihing, BUKAS-LOOB... na siya ring diwa ng Pasko, na nakita ko sa isang kilalang kwento ng isang batang gumanap sa isang dula ng Panuluyan sa kanilang iskol. Siya ang gumanap na “innkeeper” na ang sasabihin lamang ay, “Pasensiya na po, wala na hong lugar sa bahay-pahingahan.” Sa gabi ng palabas ito ay kanyang buong pusong ginampanan, sa katunayan ang dula ay parang isang tunay na pangyayari. Kaya, matapos niyang sabihin ang kanyang linya, at makitang nalulumong umalis sina Maria at Jose, siya ay naawa at tinawag niya ito: “Maria, Jose.. Sandali! Doon na lang po kayo sa amin, gamitin n’yo po ang aking kwarto.”

Alalahanin po natin ang turo ni Hesus: “Tuluran ang mga bata...” maging bukas-loob.

24th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C

NAGHIHINTAY ANG DIYOS SA IYONG PAGBABALIK

Tayo ay naniniwala na sa mga Sakramento ay makakasama o mararanasan nating ang Dios. Halimbawa sa Banal na Misa, tinatanggap natin si Kristo bilang Salita sa ating pakikinig sa mga pagbasa at sermon, at sa anyo ng tinapay at alak sa Banal na Komunyon. Kaya nga marami ang nagsisimba para makasama at tanggapin and Dios sa kanilang buhay.

Maliban sa Misa, ang sakramento ng Binyag, Kumpil, at Ordinasyon ay mga sakramentong maraming tao ang dumadalo sapagkat pinaniniwalaan natin na ang mga okasyong ito ay hindi lamang masaya kundi puno din ng biyaya ng Dios kung saan mararanasan ang kadakilaan at pag-ibig ng Dios.

Subalit mapapansin natin na sa Sakramento ng Kumpisal, madalang pa sa patak ng ulan ang mga tumatangkilik nito. Ilan sa mga sinasabing dahilan bakit iilan lang ang nangungumpisal ay dahil natatakot ang marami na PAGALITAN NG PARI. Sinu naman ang hindi matatakot sa pari kung simula pagkabata ay sinasabi sayo… “Pssst.. Huwag kang malikot sa simbahan. Papagalitan ka ni Pader…” Kaya ganun na lamang ang takot ng marami na lumapit sa pari sa kumpisalan. Lalong-lalo na ang sabihin ang kanyang mga kasalanan. Para sa kanya ang Dios ay makapangyarihan at malupit sa kanyang pagpaparusa na kailangang iwasan at layuan.

Sa Ebanghelyo natin ngayon, kabaligtaran ang sinasabi ni Hesus. Sa pamamagitan ng dalawang kwento, ang “Nawawalang Tupa” at “Nawawalang Pilak” ipinapakita ni Hesus ang pagsisikap ng Dios na hanapin ang mga naliligaw ng landas at ang laki ng kagalakan ng Dios pag ito ay nagbalik sa kanya.

Sa kwento ng ng “Nawawalang Tupa” masasabi nating napakairresponsable naman ng pastol para iwanan ang 99 para lang sa iisang nawawala. Pwedi namang hayaan na lang niya iyon. Mas higit na mahalaga ang naiwang 99.

Subalit ang binibigyang diin ng kwento ay hindi kung sinu ang mas mahalaga kundi gaano kahalaga ang bawat isang tupa, o tao sa Mabuting Pastol, sa Dios. Sa pamamagitan ng kwento, sinasabi niya sa atin na di niya hahayaang may mawala kahit isa. Gagawin ng Dios ang lahat makita at maibalik lang ito sa kanyang piling. Mahalaga ang bawat isa sa Dios… Maging sinu ka man. Kaya walang dahilan para matakot at iwasan natin ang Dios.

Sa kwento ng “Nawawalang Pilak” ay lumalabas na OA (over acting) ang babae. Gaanu ba kahalaga ang isang pilak para guluhin niya ang kanyang buhay at bahay? Ayun sa mga eksperto sa bibliya ay maaring aras na ginamit sa kanyang kasal ang nasabing o di naman kaya ay katumbas ng isang araw ng sahud ng isang manggagawa. Kaya naman pala ganun na lang ang pagsisikap ng babae na makita ang nawawalang pilak. Ginawa niya ang lahat makita lamang ang pilak.

Para kay Hesus, ang Dios ay katulad ng babae sa kanyang pagsisikap na maibalik sa kanyang piling ang mga nawawala, ang mga naliligaw ng landas. Dahil sa kanyang dakilang pag-ibig, gagawin niya ang lahat para sa atin… (mag mukha man itong OA). Kaya nga ang kanyang kaisa-isa at pinakamamahal na anak ay kanyang sinugo para para sa ating kaligtasan. Napakatindi ng paghahangad ng Dios na ang tao ay bumalik sa kanya. Kaya walang dahilan para layuan at katakotan ang Dios, na tangihan ang kanyang paanyaya na magbalik-loob sa kanya.

At matapos makita at maibalik ang nawawala, katulad sa kwento, magsasaya ang Dios. Ipamamalita niya ito at magaanyaya ng makikipagsaya sa kanya. Napakadakila ng pag-ibig ng Diyos. Paulit-ulit man Siyang sinusuway, nandiyan pa rin siya at naghihintay, at handang magpatawad. Di natin mararanasan ang kanyang pagpapatawad at pag-ibig kundi di rin tayo tutugon sa kanyang paanyaya. Kaya’t iwaksi (alisin na) ang takot sa puso’t sa halip ay tanggapin ang Dios sa ating buhay. Ito lamang ang tanging paraan katulad ng pagmamahal sa kwentong ito:

Newspaper columnist and minister George Crane tells of a wife who came into his office full of hatred toward her husband. "I do not only want to get rid of him, I want to get even. Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has me."

Dr. Crane suggested an ingenious plan "Go home and act as if you really love your husband. Tell him how much he means to you. Praise him for every decent trait. Go out of your way to be as kind, considerate, and generous as possible. Spare no efforts to please him, to enjoy him. Make him believe you love him. After you've convinced him of your undying love and that you cannot live without him, then drop the bomb. Tell him that your're getting a divorce. That will really hurt him." With revenge in her eyes, she smiled and exclaimed, "Beautiful, beautiful. Will he ever be surprised!" And she did it with enthusiasm. Acting "as if." For two months she showed love, kindness, listening, giving, reinforcing, sharing. When she didn't return, Crane called. "Are you ready now to go through with the divorce?"

"Divorce?" she exclaimed. "Never! I discovered I really do love him." Her actions had changed her feelings. Motion resulted in emotion. The ability to love is established not so much by fervent promise as often repeated deeds. J. Allan Petersen.

Ganun din ang lumapit at ibigin ang Diyos, di natin mararamdaman ang kanyang pagpapatawad, awa at biyaya kung hindi natin ilalapit ang ating sarili sa kanya.

23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

TWO MARKS OF A TRUE DISCIPLE

For couples who have been married for at least 20 year, what made you say that your partner is faithful to you? What are the identifiable indicators of his/her commitment?

Some of the answers would be: Since the time we’re married, my husband never failed to kiss me on the forehead before he goes to sleep… She always cooked my favorite kare-kare on my birthday…. He always accompanied me to Mass and to the cemetery on the death anniversary of my mother.

For married couples, these are some of the signs that their partner is committed and faithful to them. In our Gospel today, Jesus identifies two marks of a faithful and committed follower of him, namely, unequalled love (great love) and sacrifice.

1. Unequalled love is referred to when Jesus said, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, cannot be my disciple.” The text should not be read as anti-family sentiment of Jesus, for Jesus was never against the institution of family. There is no way Jesus would come against the 4^th commandment that says, “Honor your father and mother.” Rather, this statement of hate is an exaggerated expression to emphasize the demand for an unequalled love for God. Hence, unequaled love of God is expressed in a disciple’s total commitment to God, one that has no room for compromise and concession. Human experience illustrates this point of unequalled demanded for God.

During the 17th century, Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, sentenced a soldier to be shot for his crimes. The execution was to take place at the ringing of the evening curfew bell. However, the bell did not sound. The soldier's fiancé had climbed into the belfry and clung to the great clapper of the bell to prevent it from striking. When she was summoned by Cromwell to account for her actions, she wept as she showed him her bruised and bleeding hands. Cromwell's heart was touched and he said, "Your lover shall live because of your sacrifice. Curfew shall not ring tonight!"

*

She was lying on the ground. In her arms she held a tiny baby girl. As I put a cooked sweet potato into her outstretched hand, I wondered if she would live until morning. Her strength was almost gone, but her tired eyes acknowledged my gift. The sweet potato could help so little -- but it was all I had.

Taking a bite she chewed it carefully. Then, placing her mouth over her baby's mouth, she forced the soft warm food into the tiny throat. Although the mother was starving, she used the entire potato to keep her baby alive. Exhausted from her effort, she dropped her head on the ground and closed her eyes. In a few minutes the baby was asleep. I later learned that during the night the mother's heart stopped, but her little girl lived.

How great is that love which is ready to offer all that one has.

Great and unequalled love for God demanded from a disciple is a costly thing. During the infancy stage of Christianity, Christians literally have to give up even their own lives for the faith, and for these we have today martyrs.

2. Sacrifice is behind these words of Jesus, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” To follow Jesus is to take the road less traveled where the terrain is hard and the trails are difficult. There is no easy walk for a Christian. But it must be remembered that, the cross is our salvation. Take the for instance the noted experience of Marcos, nicknamed “The Flea,”

On 19^th September 1985 a devastating earthquake struck Mexico City. It killed several thousand people and caused terrible damage. Those who survived dug through the rubble to rescue as many as possible who were trapped beneath the masonry. One man, Marcos, nicknamed ‘The Flea’ because he was so small, less than 1.5m was able to crawl through small openings in the surface and go into cavities in the rubble to rescue people. He helped rescue 27 people.

He had been nicknamed ‘The Flea’ because of his small stature, which must have been hurtful for him, but what was initially a disappointing and disheartening situation for Marcos, a burden he had to carry latter became a source of gratitude for the many people he was able to immediately rescue from the rubbles of the earthquake. Indeed, the cross is our salvation.

The Gospel is strongly and firmly calling us to be committed Christians who love God above all things and are ready to sacrifice their personal convenience. Commitment nowadays is coming to scarcity. The temptation is always to make life easy and convenient at the expense of our valued principles, treasured relationship and faith in Christ.

Nevertheless, it remains that our faithfulness to follow Jesus is measured by our stewardship, mass attendance, fidelity to our husband/wife, honest business practice, accurate tax returns, compassion for the less fortunate, responsible use of our natural resources, advocacy for good governance, fight against corruptions and search for truth and justice in our social affairs. All of these are costly commitments, denying ourselves of the pleasures of the world and a burden on our shoulders that we must carry along. This is the cost of discipleship of which Jesus is asking us to embrace if we want to follow him.