Author: Santuario de San Antonio Parish

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“Belong, Believe, Become”, Lenten Recollection by Father Dave Concepcion

Through the Evangelization Ministry, headed by Bobby Novenario
April 12, 2014, Santuario de San Antonio Parish
Notes by Letty Jacinto-Lopez

“Lent is not about rituals, it is about relationships”

During Lent, we observe traditional ceremonies that were handed down through generations and therefore considered familiar and regarded with great reverence. These rites, in fact, formed a large part of our childhood memories and shaped our spiritual foundation. However, if we give too much emphasis
on rites, we stand the risk of not being able to bring Jesus into our own lives, in a more personal level.

With candor and humor, Father Dave shared some of his insights on the following:

BELONG.
“The company you keep does have an impact and influence on your choices.”

Weren’t we able to harness the courage to pursue our dreams and ambitions because behind us stood family and friends who believed in us?

As an example, Father Dave showed a picture of three children, all survivors of Typhoon Yolanda. In the midst of wanton destruction, they managed to laugh heartily. Why? Because, they had each other.

Mother Teresa affirmed this, “Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for or forgotten by everybody, is a much greater hunger and poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.”

We cannot reach Heaven alone. We belong to a community and a community is not just about being together but doing life together. Christ’s invitation to us? “Become a part of me.” And this He made possible, every day. We become one with Him through the sacrament of the holy Eucharist.

BELIEVE
The Ten Commandments was not a series of do’s and don’ts but a big YES, to love and life.

Father Dave said that if we believe in God, we must also believe in evil, “God was responsible for everything good. It was man who created evil.” He shared the story of a veteran exorcist who was driving a dark spirit away by praying the Our Father. The spirit replied, “I know that prayer, too.” We must remember that Satan was one of the more intelligent angels, before his fall. Satan believed in God the Father but not God the Son.

In Romans 10:19, “If you believe in your heart that Jesus was raised from the dead, you will be saved.” The question however, remains: Do you make it easier for others to believe in God? Our faith doesn’t make things easy, it makes things possible and destines us to do great things.

Being true in our belief requires a lot of sacrifices and a lot of hard work. Mother Angelica, founder of EWTN, remarked, “Holiness is not for wimps and the cross is not negotiable, Sweetheart. It’s a requirement.”

In another anecdote, Father Dave was urged to pray for blue skies despite the rain beating down ferociously. Suddenly, he heard a voice, “Remove the marquee and I’ll stop the rain.” Father Dave raised his brows, unsure of what he heard. Again, the voice echoed the same instruction. Finally, running through the puddles, he had the marquee removed. Two other priests, soaking in the rain, raised their brows at him. But lo, when the marquee came down, the dark clouds dispersed and out came the sun. “God is not logical,” exclaimed Father Dave. He will continue to amaze us. “Help me in my unbelief God and let my faith be bigger than my fears.”

BECOME
Everytime we celebrate a birthday, we become new. It is an opportunity to focus on God and what He continues to do in our lives. Our quest is not on acquiring material things but in changing our disposition so that we become closer to reaching our ultimate goal: Heaven. This would be our ultimate becoming. Like the rich young man who asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Take courage, be brave and follow Jesus.

“Doing Ordinary Things with Extraordinary Love”

We are called to imitate the saints in our spiritual journey. Sometimes, it only requires simple little acts every day but done with a lot of love and patience. Father Dave gave the following suggestions:

Begin the day by saying a little prayer to thank God for being alive (a gift), for a restful sleep and a chance for a new beginning. Pray to God, “Empty me of me so I can be filled with You.”

1. DON’T Gossip. Don’t pre-judge without verifying the facts but even if the story is true, you still have no right to talk about others, or derive pleasure at the expense of others and worse, with the intention to harm or smear his name.

2. FINISH your food, out of a sense of gratitude because God has been generous to you and a sense of respect for those who have none. Don’t stuff your plate and then leave leftovers. Regarding vegetables, don’t lie to your children about vegetables being delicious and scrumptious. They’re not. Instead, endorse them for their nutritional values.

3. MAKE time for others. Give a bit of your heart than a piece of your mind. Practice the 7-8-9 hours allocation, that is, devote seven (7) hours for sleeping, 8 hours for working and 9 hours for others. If retired, you have 17 hours at your disposal.

4. In buying, CHOOSE the more humble purchase as a reminder that there’s nothing in this world that you can bring to Heaven. Don’t be possessed by your possessions. Your self worth is not based on what you can buy or afford. Empty yourself of your ego so that you have time for others.

Remember that death is the great equalizer. No matter how rich, famous, beautiful or outstanding you are, your grave will be the same size as any common man.

5. MEET the poor in the flesh. Look, talk and listen to them. Visit the orphanage, old homes, the slums or public hospitals. Sometimes, the poor may be the ones right in your own home – the aging and ailing elders who are forsaken by family, neglected, abandoned or treated without dignity.

6. STOP judging others. Some people find faults as if there’s a reward for it.

7. BEFRIEND or do not lock horns with those who disagree with you or has an opposite opinion. If it’s about your passion, swim with the current, but if it’s your principle at stake, stand your ground, like a rock.

People use rudeness to push their weight around. Rudeness or being impolite is a poor imitation of strength while Gentleness is strength under control.

If you encounter people who bad-mouths, are harsh and cruel, react by blessing them. This requires a lot of discipline. Don’t match your opponent’s unsavory behavior. Forgive and God will bless you more.

8. MAKE a commitment. It is the glue to bond your goals. If you give your word, honor it and stay loyal.

9. PRAY. MAKE it a habit to ask The Lord for guidance, for discernment. Keep that relationship of love. Whatever you do if you are not doing it for God, you’re doing it for yourself.

10. BE Happy. The joy of The Lord is your strength. It’s a gift. Keeping a positive and humble attitude makes it easier to find satisfaction and fulfillment. Believe much more in God’s love than in your fears.

Father Dave ended with a challenge: What part of the recollection struck you most and why? What do you wish to achieve? Decide and act on it. Now.

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Passover Seder Meal

The SSAP community celebrated the Seder Meal on April 10, 2014 as a celebration of the exodus from Egypt and God’s redemptive liberation of Israel from slavery and spiritual misery. This Meal, while generally a Jewish tradition, has played an integral role in Franciscan Lenten celebration. Representatives from the different parish ministries were present to join in fellowship and to reenact the Passover meal.

In welcoming participants, the Seder Meal continues with the lighting of the candles. Using the prayer book for the ritual, the leader starts the meal with the blessing of the wine followed by the washing of hands. Then karpas (green vegetable) is dipped in salt water to remind participants of the misery caused by slavery in Egypt. At that point, the middle piece of three matzas (unleavened bread) on the table is broken and hidden by the leader for children to find later.

The leader then tells the Passover story beginning with the bread of affliction. It is a reminder of the Jewish people’s pain in slavery and is also symbolic of the suffering in the world today. Here the leader asks the children to open the door as a gesture of hospitality. The youngest person attending the Seder asks four questions. The first one being “Why is this night different from all other nights?” After the explanations, a second cup of wine — the cup of memory — is poured followed by another washing of hands and a prayer. Then the dinner is served.

Following dinner, young participants search for the hidden matza and songs or hymns are performed while the festivities continue. There is a prayer after the meal followed by the third cup — the cup of redemption. It is at this time the cup of Eljiah is filled and placed in the middle of the table. A recitation of the psalms and the conclusion of the Passover Seder are observed with the fourth cup — the cup of hope — along with the final benediction.

The festivities concluded with parishioners joyously dancing hand in hand forming a ring of unity amongst the community.

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“Lent and the Sacraments of Baptism and Penance” by Fr. Jesus Galindo, OFM

LENT AND THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
Many of the biblical readings at Mass during this season of Lent can hardly be understood unless we keep in mind the institution of the catechumenate and the religious instruction which the catechumens, i.e., the candidates for baptism, received during the first part of the Mass. One could become a catechumen and receive instruction at any time of the year. In fact, the catechumenate used to last for as long as three years. During this time, the catechumens, under the supervision of the Christian community, tried to put into practice the Ten Commandments. This was called the remote preparation.

When one finally wanted to receive baptism or was considered fit to be baptized, he had to make his desire known to the Church authorities at the beginning of Lent. Those who proved to be serious applicants for baptism were admitted on Ash Wednesday into the list of electi (the chosen ones); during the weeks of Lent, they underwent intense instruction and ascetical training, fast and mortification. This was called the proximate preparation. Baptism was administered only once a year – during the Easter Vigil. Even now, the Vigil’s part three is called, “Liturgy of Baptism.”

After their enrolment in the list of baptizandi (candidates for baptism), they had to undergo three public ceremonies called scrutinia. These scrutinies were first held on the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent, but by the beginning of the 7th century they were moved to Friday of the 3rd week and Wednesday and Friday of the 4th week of Lent. During the second scrutiny they were taught about, and handed a copy of the four gospels, the Creed, and the Our Father. Today, the Masses of these latter days contain several references to baptism – a remnant of the special ceremonies held in those days for the catechumen.

In the pre-Vatican II missals, the first part of the Mass (which we now call Liturgy of the Word) was called Mass of the Catechumens, in reference to the old practice of dismissing the catechumens from church right after the gospel. They were not allowed to participate in the second part of the Mass – the Liturgy of the Eucharist. After the reading of the gospel and the prayers of the faithful, the deacon would say three times, in a loud voice: “Let all the catechumens leave!”; Extant Catechumeni!

The practice of the catechumenate has been revived or restored by the Second Vatican Council. The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy states: “The catechumenate for adults, comprising several distinct steps, is to be restored and brought into use at the discretion of the local ordinary. By this means the time of the catechumenate, which is intended as a period of suitable instruction, may be sanctified by sacred rites to be celebrated at successive intervals of time.” (n.64)

LENT AND THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE
When the practice of public penance was organized in the 5th and 6th centuries, the sackcloth and ashes were chosen as a sign of punishment for those who had committed serious crimes. This practice of putting on, or sitting on, sackcloth and ashes existed already in the Old Testament. (Est 4:1; Jon 3:5) In the New Testament, it is mentioned in Lk 10:13 as a sign of penance.

The ashes were imposed on the very first day of the Lenten fast, the Wednesday of Quinquagessima. The period of penance lasted until Holy Thursday, when public sinners were solemnly reconciled, absolved from their sins and allowed to receive Holy Communion, after having satisfactorily fulfilled their penance, as described below. This, by the way, is the origin of the term quarantine, accepted into common usage, to signify separation or exclusion from human contact (as in the case of certain prisoners and persons suffering from infectious diseases).

The procedure of public penance was as follows: Public sinners
approached their priest shortly before Lent to accuse themselves of their misdeeds. On Ash Wednesday, they were presented by the priest to the bishop of the place. Outside the cathedral, poor and noble alike stood barefoot, dressed in sackcloth, with heads bowed in humble contrition. The bishop assigned to each one particular acts of penance, according to the nature and gravity of his crime. Whereupon they entered the church – the bishop leading one of them by the hand and the others following in single line, holding each other’s hand.

Before the altar, not only the penitents but also the bishop and all his clergy recited the seven penitential psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130 and 143). Then, each penitent went forward; the bishop imposed ashes on his head and put on him the tunic of sackcloth. After this ceremony, the penitents were led out of the church and were forbidden to re-enter it until Holy Thursday for the reconciliation ceremony.

Meanwhile, they would spend the Lenten weeks apart from their families, in a monastery or in some other place of voluntary confinement, where they devoted themselves to prayer, manual work and works of charity. Among other things, they had to go barefoot all through Lent, were forbidden to converse with others, were made to sleep on the ground or on beddings of straw, and were not allowed to bathe or to cut their hair.

The Church, as a loving mother, did not forget her contrite children; some of the prayers and readings of the Lenten Masses seem to have been chosen with the penitents in mind. (CF. Guide for the Christian Assembly, Vol. II) Eventually, the imposition of ashes as well as other penitential practices were shared, not only by public sinners but by all other people as well, leaving their mark both in the Lenten liturgy and in the ascetical exercises of the season.

About Fr. Jesus and his reflections

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“Because God Loves, He Suffers,” by Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM

The yearly commemoration of the Holy Week, of the Passion and Death of Jesus leading to his Resurrection, starts with the commemoration of his pilgrim journey or entrance into Jerusalem.

According to Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Jesus of Nazareth, Part II), Jesus’ pilgrim journey from Galilee to Jerusalem is an “ascent” in both geographical and inner sense. It is an ascent in a literal and “geographical sense because the Sea of Galilee is situated about 690 feet below sea level, whereas Jerusalem is on average 2500 feet above.” It is also an inner spiritual ascent because “in the outward climb to Jerusalem,” Jesus’ ultimate goal is “his self-offering on the Cross.” Indeed, Jesus’ ascent to self-offering on the Mount of Golgotha, “an ascent towards loving to the point of death,” is “via the Cross.”

It is also in this ascent to his sacrifice on the Cross and in obedience to the Father’s will that God’s definitive revelation in Jesus is fulfilled. As Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me. The One who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone because I always do what is pleasing to him.” (Jn. 8:28-29)

Jesus ascends to his self-offering on the Cross on a donkey, an animal of the poor, the lowly and the humble. He does not come on a horse, a symbol of might and power. Although he is coming as a king, as exemplified by the spreading out of garments that is reminiscent of Israelite kingship, his is a different kind of kingship. Pope Benedict XVI writes: “He is a king who destroys the weapons of war, a king of peace and a king of simplicity, a king of the poor.”

With branches from the trees, the people cry out: “Hosanna!” Through this Hosanna acclamation, disciples and the other pilgrims to Jerusalem express their hope for the coming of the Messiah and for the reestablishment of the David’s kingship and, therefore, of God’s kingship over Israel.

Indeed, Jesus is the Awaited Messiah, but he is not a political and worldly Messiah. It is precisely in the face of his passion in the hands of his enemies and of his death on the Cross that Jesus shows his being a Messiah. Jesus is the Crucified Messiah. He saves by being determinedly committed to the Father’s will even to the point of betrayal and death in the hands of men. Only in the shameful and baffling powerlessness of the Cross can Jesus demonstrate that authority that ultimately saves, forgives and rehabilitates. Jesus defines what sort of Messiah he really is on the Cross and not on a golden throne surrounded by power, might and pomp. The true Messiah is one who is crucified, who dies and who humbly and lovingly gives his all until there is nothing more to give. The true Messiah is one who suffers not only for us but also with us and in us.

But the week of the commemoration of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus is called Holy Week, not so much because of the passion and death of Jesus. It is not his passion and death per se that make Jesus’ passion and death holy but the love with which these are embraced. The passion and death of Jesus are a sign of love. They are the greatest expression of the Father’s love for us in and through Jesus His beloved Son. These are the culmination of a life lived in love – the love of God and His kingdom and of others. Jesus is one who walks his talk. His central message, the Kingdom of God, has something to do with God’s loving presence and action in our lives and history and this gets a most definitive seal of expression with the offering of Jesus’s life on the Cross.

While the passion and death of Jesus are a sign of love, they are also an invitation to love in a sacrificial and sacrificing manner. True love cannot but be sacrificial and sacrificing. To love is to be ready to offer oneself for the beloved even if this will involve a lot of sacrifices and, possibly, death. The ultimate measure of love is how much you are ready to suffer, to make sacrifices and to offer your life for the other.

Myron J. Taylor, following the insights of German theologians Jurgen Moltmann and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, says: “Because God cares—because God loves—He suffers… If God loves, then God suffers. To love is to be vulnerable — to be vulnerable means to be open to the hurts and risks that come with freedom.”

More about Fr. Robert and his reflections.

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“Seven Last Words of Christ” by Javier Luis Gomez

“For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.“

Rom 12:4-5

As we enter into Holy Week, we approach the summit of the liturgical year. It is a time that draws us in to the very heart of the Christian mystery. Through the Triduum the saving love of God continues to manifest itself in our lives today.

To help us enter more fully into the mystery, we invite everyone to attend a meditation on the seven last words of Christ. Friday is the day that Jesus died on the cross. It was on this day that his body was beaten, persecuted, scourged, spat on and crucified. Today, Christ’s body is still tortured, persecuted, discriminated and killed. Beyond the borders of the Philippines, Christians all over the world continue to participate in the sufferings of Christ.

This unique meditation will bring to us sharers from different backgrounds and different cultural milieu. They will share with us their experiences of being Catholic in different parts of the world, and how in their experiences they find solidarity with Jesus Christ.

From Malaysia, Peter Toyat shares with us his experiences living in a country that is a melting pot of different faiths and cultures. Peter is actively involved in Christian-Muslim dialogue and interreligious dialogue in his home country.

Ian Monsod is from our parish and has recently returned home after living in the America for many years. He brings to us a story of struggling to keep his faith in a culture that is becoming increasingly secularized.

Sister Luz Mariais a Columbian sister who has been in the Philippines for many years, working at the Holy Family Home is Taguig. She compares her Latin-American roots to our own Filipino context and how there is much we can learn from each other.

Sr. Mary Vanaja, MCJ (Vana) is an Indian sister shares with us the history of the Indian church and how it has deep Christian roots that come out of the period of great missionary evangelization. The Church in India today faces many struggles that are shared by many Asians across the region.

Fufu Widjaya is a wife and mother of three young children. She has lived in Manila for almost ten years now, after having grown up in Indonesia. She shares with us her experiences growing up as a minority Catholic in a country that is mostly Muslim – and how that experienced has shaped her today.

Father Rey Legayadahas recently spent much time stationed with the Franciscans in Spain. Over his time there he has seen many of the changes that the Church in Europe has undergone and he shares his own insights on that reality.

Mara Eala spent some time after her studies to volunteer with the Assumption sisters in east Africa last year. She traveled around Tanzania and Kenya helping the sisters with their ministry. She shares with us what she has seen from the Church in Africa.

Each of the sharers will share with us their experiences with the universal church. As we contemplate on the sufferings of Christ, let us also meditate on the sufferings the body of Christ continues to experience today.

The Seven Last Words takes place on Good Friday – 1:30pm to 3pm.

***

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Javier teaches at the Ateneo de Manila University and is the head of the Evangelization Ministry at Santuario de San Antonio. He continues to work with young people both in and out of the parish.

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Deepening Spirituality through Prayer, Sacrament and Service

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The Family Life Ministry of Santuario de San Antonio organized a half-day Lenten recollection, which was held last Saturday, March 8, at the Parish Center. Its theme was on “Deepening Spirituality through Prayer, Sacrament and Service.” It was facilitated by Fr. Roberto Buenconsejo, SJ, Assistant Director of the Center for Ignatian Spirituality at Loyola Heights, Quezon City. Members of different parish committees, parishioners, as well as some parents and teachers of CCD students attended this activity.

Helping us go through this season of Lent, Fr. Buenconsejo guided us through reflection to recognize God’s presence in our situation in this modern world where we can easily go about our daily routine, live through great problems and maybe forget or question God’s presence in our lives.

There is a form of spirituality that would work for each one of us. Be it as in the Middle Ages – when the pious “left” behind the world to find their way towards God. There is also another spirituality that meant recognizing God and His goodness in the small details of our everyday life – a blooming flower, a beggar on the street, children, nature, etc.

Every year the season of Lent gives us the chance to step back and evaluate our relationship with God and set ourselves back on the right track through prayer, reflection and atonement. How do we make God part of our life? A few minutes several times throughout the day would certainly add up and count for God. Pause in the early morning for 15 minutes in gratitude for a good night’s rest, think of what lies ahead for the day and seek God’s guidance, pause again at noon in gratitude and awareness of God’s presence, and another 15 minutes before bedtime to end the day with God.

Before ending the recollection with the holy Mass, Fr. Buenconsejo reminded us of the feast that comes from fasting, as we recognize the goodness of restraining ourselves from even small acts of ease and comfort. This could be “to fast from complaining” to be able “to feast on appreciation” or “to fast from judging others” and instead “feast on the Christ within them.” For many of us, who are in a secular situation, and in our own way, to offer up the small inconveniences and recognizing the good that could be drawn from them can help us live this Lenten season closer to God. May all of us be blessed this Lent!

Fasting and Feasting

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“Whoever Believes in Me Will Never Die”, by Fr. Jesus Galindo, OFM

Water→Light→Life. There is a steady crescendo, a growing intensity, in the gospels of the last three Sundays—all from St. John. On the third Sunday of Lent, Jesus was portrayed as the living water that gave new life to the Samaritan woman and to her town mates. Last Sunday, fourth of Lent, Jesus was the life-giving light, which opened the eyes of the blind man—and his heart too. Today, Jesus is the resurrection and the life—the Lord and giver of life.

All three gospel events were signs (a favorite term of John’s gospel) meant to bring about faith in Jesus. The Samaritan woman and her town mates believed in Jesus. The blind man bowed down and worshipped him. And in today’s gospel, “many Jews began to believe in him.” Not only did they become believers—in all three instances; they also became apostles: The Samaritan woman brought her town mates to Jesus. The blind man defended Jesus before the Pharisees to the point of being expelled from the synagogue because of that. And Lazarus caused many Jews to believe in Jesus; so much so that the chief priests wanted to kill, not only Jesus but Lazarus as well, “because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.” (Jn. 12:10-11).

These three gospels of John were used already in the early Church to instruct the catechumens (those who prepared themselves for baptism) in the faith, telling them that, through baptism, they were to become, not only believers but also apostles—and even martyrs, of Jesus Christ.

Today’s gospel about the rising of Lazarus proclaims above all the divinity of Jesus, the Lord and Master of life and death. It also underlines his humanity; he is a true man, with human feelings. No other gospel passage plays up Jesus’ feelings and emotions as much as this one. Like anyone of us, Jesus developed strong bonds of friendship. He was no cold and detached preacher but a very warm human being: “Lord, the one you love is sick.” No name is given, and no name was needed. Jesus’ love for Lazarus must have been so special that there could be no doubt about his identity.

Further down, in verse 36, the Jews themselves attest to Jesus’ love for Lazarus, “See how he loved him,” they said. Jesus’ love however was not confined to Lazarus; it extended to his two sisters as well: “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” What a lucky family indeed to have enjoyed the special love and friendship of Jesus!

The gospels are usually silent about Jesus’ feelings and emotions. Verses 33 to 38 however are an exception; they are truly emotion-laden. They bare the humanity of Jesus and reveal how deeply the death of his friend Lazarus affected him—even though he knew that he was about to raise him up from the dead: “Jesus became perturbed and deeply troubled.” “Jesus wept.” “So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb.”

The core and centerpiece of today’s gospel is, of course, the dialogue of Jesus and Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life… Whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” These words of Jesus are the backbone of our Christian religion; they sustain us in our grief over the death of a loved one, with the assurance that death is not the end of it all but rather the beginning of a more beautiful life with the Lord.

Those words of Jesus give us the courage we need to take up our daily cross and to accept illness, and even death, in a spirit of loving submission to the will of God. They dispose us too to enter into the approaching mystery of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection with the firm conviction that suffering, sickness and death will not have the last word. With Martha, we burst into a profession of faith in the promise made by Jesus: “Yes, Lord, we have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is to come into the world.”

More About Fr. Jesus and his reflections.

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“Blindness and Power Play” by Fr. Joel Sulse, OFM

“You were born a sinner and now you teach us!”

This remark by the Pharisees to the man-born-blind is a very paralyzing and belittling statement. This is borne out of a certain bias against him since they believe that his physical disability is a product of a curse or a sin done by his ancestors. The blind man suffers all the more from this merciless cultural bias.

I have been ministering to a few thousands of inmates in my ten years as a priest. I became close to them that I have often seen the others going back and forth to the penitentiary even though their cases had already been dismissed. One of the compelling realities I have discovered which has really surprised me is the common remark from the inmates. I have known of the sad state that they have encountered outside. They have experienced the most difficult and most trying moments in convincing people and the company they apply for in seeking a job. One inmate said “Applying for a job is very difficult than having policemen catch us.” They said it was double agony on their part experiencing rejection from the society where they belong. The bias is so enormous that the rejection is like a two-edged sword slashing them to the bone. Even their closest friends and their families have developed the same kind of prejudice against them. Too sad to think but indeed it is a reality happening every minute of the day in their lives.

The experience of the man-bornblind and the inmates I have known are in no way different. They tell a story of power play at work in our society. The sad thing is that this power play of authority is mostly present in the human heart. It pierces through the brain of every human individual and dictates us to commit and develop a more biased culture amongst us. The reason why Jesus healed the man-born-blind is to shake the authority of the Pharisees regarding their on-going neglect in understanding the very essence of the Sabbath Law, and that is to give and nurture life and not to curtail one’s freedom to experience God’s mercy and compassion. Who is really in control of the situation? To which type of authority do we belong? What other related biases have we done?

Jesus in the gospel would like us to recognize that the spiritual blindnessof the Pharisees is a serious crime far greater than the physical blindness of a person. What is so inspiring in the story is the challenge asked by Jesus to the man-born-blind, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” And the response He got was “Lord, I believe!” And we were told that he worshiped Him. Indeed “Blessed are the lowly for they will inherit the kingdom of God.”

Superiority separated all God’s creation beyond human imaginings. It divided the world into countless groups. Differences were solidified that instead of experiencing the universality of the innateness in each one of us, it penetrated into the instincts of human and other living beings. It became a culture, and thus, the sufferings of the world are but products of this enormous mistake. Superiority has always been the problem. But a solution has been offered to us in the humanity of Christ himself…that though He is a God, He did not deem equality with God. Rather, He emptied himself and took the form of a slave. This is the humility of God shared to help humankind understand that there is another way to become great in His eyes.

Can we stop belittling others and stop subscribing to the offers of being superior to others? What about choosing the path of the man-bornblind? He believed and worshiped Jesus! Let us continue to move on to this meaningful Lenten journey.

Read More about Fr. Joel and his reflections.

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“Rediscovering the Power of the Sacraments this Lent” by Javier Luis Gomez

Over the last three Saturdays, the parish has sponsored a series of Lenten talks under the theme “REDEEMED”. Each talk focuses on a different sacrament in the life of the Church and how the sacraments are realities that continue in our lives as Catholics up till this very day.

The first talk was entitled “BLOOD and WATER” and was focused on the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. It was given by Javier Gomez, a lay theologian and instructor at Ateneo de Manila University. Following Pope Francis suggestion, he advised us all to “reawaken the memory of our Baptism and Confirmation.” We shouldn’t remember these two sacraments as merely events that took place in the past. Instead, to “remember” our Baptism and Confirmation means that we allow these sacraments to continue to affect our lives as followers of Christ today. Pope Francis says that is important for us to remember the day that we were immersed in the stream of God’s salvation – the day that we became a part of God’s family.

The second speakers were Tony and Dottie Pasya, a married couple who are the chapter heads of the Couples for Christ in Santuario de San Antonio. The title of the talk was “SACRAMENT” which focused on the sacrament of matrimony. Tony emphasized the power of the sacrament and how it gives husband and wife the supernatural grace to be loyal, loving and faithful to each other. Above all, Tony shared about the power of forgiveness and how it is essential to sustaining a marriage. Dottie offered many practical tips to developing not just a God-centered marriage, but a God-fearing family. In our times when the family is subject to so many opposing external forces, fostering a family centered on love is so key.

Our third talk was entitled “MERCY” and was centered on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. During this time of Lent, this theme is especially important to us. Lent is the time for us to return to God. Pope Francis himself has placed so much emphasis on this, designating this very weekend – March 29-30 – as a “24 hour period to come back to the Lord.” The talk was given by Jolly Gomez, who is involved with the parish prison outreach at Makati City Jail. In his talk, Jolly focused on the many ways that the seven deadly sins separate us from God’s love, and how each one can be remedied through the practice of particular virtues. Finally he invited everyone to return to God through the sacrament of reconciliation.

There is still one more yet to come. The fourth and final talk of the REDEEMED series will focus on the most important sacrament in the life of a disciple of Jesus today. This Saturday, the last talk – entitled “BREAD and WINE” will focus on the Eucharist. Our speaker will be Sister Marietta Vega, abbess of the Kidapawan monastery for the Poor Clares. These sisters are famous for their Eucharistic piety and she will share with us her experiences of the power of the Eucharist, both in their tradition and for each and every one of us today. This is definitely a talk you don’t want to miss.

So please join us for the last talk of REDEEMED – this Saturday, April 5 from 9am to 12noon at the Parish Center. It is a blessing and an opportunity that God has given us to deepen our faith and continue our lives of conversion.

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Javier teaches at the Ateneo de Manila University and is the head of the Evangelization Ministry at Santuario de San Antonio. He continues to work with young people both in and out of the parish.

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