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“Palm Sunday”, by Fr. Baltazar

May our reflections of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection this week remind us that unlike other dramas, we are not mere spectators but participants in this event.

Today is a puzzling Sunday; the liturgy is a paradox, if not a contradiction. We have two names for this Sunday, PALM SUNDAY AND PASSION SUNDAY. You have palms bending in adoration and reeds that strike a thorn-crowned head; a king and a convict. In the procession we sing Hosannah, but in the responsorial psalm, we sing, “my God, why have you abandoned me?” Today, we start the most solemn week of the year, when we commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The Lukan gospel is framed by Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem. Jesus speaks about his rejection from the hands of the leaders of Judaism. In the transfiguration, Luke told us that Jesus, Moses and Elijah were speaking about Jesus’ departure “exodus” which he is about to accomplish in Jerusalem. Nothing can deter Jesus from what he perceives as God’s will for him and so he sets “his face to go to Jerusalem.” Jesus’ rejection cannot thwart God’s will. Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem will bring peace and pardon. In so doing, he establishes God’s kingdom.

Luke’s version of Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem underscores the irony by emphasizing the power of Jesus and his royal welcome. Luke emphasizes his kingship, the most direct association of his entry with kingship comes in v. 38 (psalm 118.26) with the insertion of the word king. Apart from kingship, although not unconnected with it, is the reconciliation his death will bring about.

1. The passion and death of Jesus reminds me of the vivid portrayal of Jesus’ passion in the movie “The Passion of Christ.” Throughout the entire movie, when Jesus was being persecuted, when no parts of his body were being spared from bloody wounds, when all the taunting and insults were being heaped upon him, when all the possible cruelty was being thrown at him, Jesus took all of them not in stoic indifference, neither with a revengeful spirit, but by dignified silence and royal acceptance. He bears the suffering with dignity that truly reveals his royalty. In the cross, Jesus truly deserves to be called a King. If God is love, then the fullness of God’s love is revealed to us when Jesus died on the cross. Truly when Jesus breathed his last, the cross becomes his throne, where he hung in majesty and glory.

2. If the cross is the fullness of God’s royalty and majesty on the part of Jesus, the cross is also symbolic of our refusal to be subject to that kingship. We refuse to be subjects to this brand of kingship. It is symbolic of our sins. It is humanity’s sin that nailed Jesus to the cross and when we disobey the king’s command, we nail other people to the cross too. The cross reminds us of our cruelty to one another in our desire to seek our own selfish interests. The cross reminds us that we have not really loved enough; that we have not really loved God, ever willing to take on the pain that love entails, willing to sacrifice for the sake of the beloved.

3. Today will determine how we act the rest of the week, perhaps the rest of our lives. It is all about defining Jesus; not who he was, not the Jesus of history, but who Jesus IS, THE JESUS OF MYSTERY, Jesus at his very moment across the universe and deep in the hearts of all believers. May our reflections of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection this week remind us that unlike other dramas, we are not mere spectators but participants in this event. We are invited to see that the crucifixion is being replayed a thousand times daily in the lives of the outcasts, the marginalized, the disenfranchised, all because we refuse his kingship.

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“What should we do?” by Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM

This personal and self-implicating question needs to be answered during this season of prayer, reflection and self-examination.

The Third Sunday of Advent has been called Gaudete Sunday, after the Latin gaudete, “to rejoice.” The mood of joyful expectation is what characterizes the readings for this Sunday. The First Reading from the Book Of Zephaniah (Zep 3:14-18a) addresses four imperative verbs to Jerusalem in calling her to rejoice: “Shout for joy! Sing joyfully! Be glad and exult with all your heart!” The Lord is “in your midst” bringing about salvation, and this calls for rejoicing.

In the Second Reading Paul exhorts the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again. Rejoice!” (Phil 4:4-7). “Rejoice in the Lord” is a common Pauline phrase that implies union with Christ as the very source of joy. In the face of tribulations and trials, joy is experienced as an interior peace in the Lord that “guards our minds and hearts.”

But before we can truly celebrate the joy of God’s presence and salvation, we must first allow ourselves to be confronted by John the Baptist. John reminds us that repentance is the only Advent route as we continue to prepare
for the Lord’s coming.

The Gospel periscope today (Lk 3: 10-18) consists of an exchange between John and the crowd, the tax collectors and the soldiers on the question, “What should we do?” and of John’s response to the question of his identity vis-a-vis the Christ.

“What should we do?” is the same question that the crowds ask at Pentecost in response to Peter’s preaching (Acts 2:37). John’s answers to the said groups of seekers confront the issues of inequalities and injustices prevalent in the society. Those who have clothes and food must share with those who have none. Tax collectors must stop imposing exorbitant taxes that oppress people. Soldiers must cease victimizing citizens with extortion, threat and blackmail. In short, people must change their ways and dealings with others.

The answers of John the Baptist to the seekers are to be pursued in response to the need to “straighten the paths” and “smoothen the ways”of one’s life for the coming of the Lord and His offer of salvation. The advent of the Lord demands personal conversion, communal renewal and social and structural transformation.

Each one of us is challenged to grapple with the same question, “What should we do?” as we continue our Advent journey. This personal and self-implicating question needs to be answered during this season of prayer, reflection and self-examination. Joy springs out of the experience of renewed conversion to the Lord and to His ways and of turning away from sinful, immoral and unethical practices.

Like John the Baptist, we must also know who we are before the Messiah. Pope Benedict XVI said, “John plays
a great role, but always in relation to Christ.” John, without any pretense and usurpation of the Lord’s identity,
declares that he is only the unworthy herald of the mighty Messiah. The Messiah’s baptism is a baptism of the
Holy Spirit and of fire; his is only a baptism of water, of repentance and of forgiveness.

St. Francis of Assisi prayed, “Who are you, Lord my God, and who am I?” These two questions are fundamental
not only to the Christian life but also to the Advent journey. The question, “What should we do?” can only be
properly faced by asking and answering first, “Who are you, Lord my God, and who am I ?”

Our Lord Jesus, by embracing with great humility and generosity the mystery of the Incarnation and the Passion of the Cross, has shown us the human face of God. He is our Messiah who has revealed to us God’s unconditional, boundless and forgiving love. In response, we can try to be the very best that we can be in relation to God, to others and to ourselves. Then, we begin to authentically experience the joy of living in the Lord who is Emmanuel, God-with-us.

as published on December 16, 2012, Parish Bulletin
About Fr. Robert and his reflections

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Parish Bulletin Pastoral Team

“Discipleship is Following Jesus on the Way of the Cross ( Mk 8: 27-35)” by Fr. Joel

The prophet Isaiah tells us that a true follower of God is a servant. A servant is a son or a daughter of God who works in accord to His ways.

The context of the gospel this Sunday is on the thematic teaching of Jesus on his suffering through the way of the cross. It is structured through the Paschal Mystery, that is the Passion, Death and Resurrection that He, Himself will experience. Jesus made the prediction in all these happenings in His life but He was misunderstood by the disciples. In the end, He corrected their misunderstandings by offering them an option for living.

Who do people say that I am? (v. 27) This query of Jesus to his disciples about the impression of people about Him is His way on testing and evaluating their faith in Him. While He is interested on what the beneficiaries of His word will tell about Him, it is a strong reminder and an evaluation too on the part of the disciples as regards their responsibility in assisting Jesus in the missionary task in spreading the Good News. Have we ever thought in reading the bible and sharing His words to others? Other denominations in Christian faith has strong inclinations in this, thus, they continue to immerse themselves in the Word of God.

But who do you say that I am? (v.29) The shift in Jesus’ query is highly noticeable. This time he goes personal, “But who do you say that I am?” He is like saying “How much have you known me? Do you really know my mission? Do you know the reason why I call you? Is your life consistent to the witnessing I show you? Jesus is giving his disciples here a guided retreat in order to help them know Him more and help them understand the true value in following his way of life, that is, the essence of His Paschal Mystery. Peter had the best reflection when he answered “You are the Messiah!”. And Jesus affirmed him in his answer for truly, it is the Father who revealed it to him. And since His time has not yet come, He ordered them not to tell anyone who he is.

Get behind me Satan, for thou dost not mind the things of God, but those of men. (v. 33) A great shift happened in this part of the dialogue. It was a shift from Peter’s affirmation of Jesus as the Messiah which by authority, he was given the keys of heaven BUT after a minute of conversation, he was exorcising the presence of Satan in Peter. Jesus reminds us of the vulnerability of the human person especially those in authority. Thus, constant discernment is very must but the challenge is for all on how we can be mindful of our words and actions.

“If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (v. 34) This verse summarizes on the desire of Jesus on how we can wholeheartedly share on the mission entrusted to Him by the Father. It is through this way of life that a disciple of Jesus can truly embrace and lived with meaning the value in following his footsteps.

St. Francis made this as the rallying point in his life. He humbled himself and accepted in total authenticity the way of life of Jesus. (This became the spiritual vision of Francis-the love of the passion aside from the humility of Incarnation.) Having embraced the same, He received the Stigmata in Mt. Alverna, the holy wounds that Jesus received in the Calvary, imprinted in his body. For Jesus, true discipleship is taking up His cross. And everything in us follows.

So what should be the way of life of an authentic disciple of Jesus?
The prophet Isaiah tells us that a true follower of God is a servant. A servant is a son or a daughter of God who works in accord to His ways. The Letter of James reminded us on the importance of faith in action when he said: “Say to whoever challenges you, “Have faith and I have good deeds; show me your faith apart from actions and I, for my part, will show you my faith in the way I act.” (V.18)

In the most recently concluded 12th Franciscan Pastoral Conference in Baguio City H.E. Most Rev. Renato Mayubga,D.D. challenged the Franciscan friars and lay leaders on the importance in knowing Jesus through the Bible, the only source that gives on the ministerial life of Jesus. He said that for us Catholics, we value the Word of God and the Tradition of our Church, taking into consideration as well the saints and the Saints in our Church. He believes and affirms the faithful in their profound experiences of concretizing the Word of God. But he dare say that it will become all the more inspiring and meaningful if we read and study His Word, deepen it in our day to day life through our constant witnessing, and keeping Him in our mind and in our hearts through our faith.”

As we celebrate the National Laity Week this September 23 to 29 with the theme: “Building Up the Body of Christ and Strengthening our Faith through New Evangelization” and honoring San Lorenzo Ruiz and Blessed Pedro Calungsod, Patron Saints of the Catholic Laity of the Philippines, let us follow them as they themselves followed Jesus on the Way of the Cross. The mark of the true disciple is on how one finds meaning in the midst of suffering because it is only through the Passion and Death that one will experience the Resurrection.

published on September 16, 2012 Parish Bulletin

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