In the past few days, we have been following the prayers of Jesus just before his passion and death. Most of these prayers of Jesus speak of oneness and of friendship. Jesus speaks about these because he has most probably felt already the suffering that he will undergo. There will be great feelings of fear, confusion, of loneliness and abandonment.
In this prayer of Jesus, he expresses his gratitude to the Father for giving him the gift of friendship with his disciples. This friendship gives comfort to Jesus. Yet, he also feels that his friends are afraid, confused and insecure. Thus, Jesus prays that his friends may be one with him, may never leave him but will accompany him in his suffering.
However, these friends of Jesus turned out to be overwhelmed by their fear and insecurities. They fled and hid themselves for fear of being persecuted. After all, they left Jesus alone.
But this attitude of the disciples never made Jesus to surrender on them. Jesus remains grateful to the Father because he saw something beyond the imperfection and unfaithfulness of his friends.
Indeed, Jesus trusts the wisdom of the Father for giving him these kinds of friends. These friends are also the very sign of the Father’s love to him. Beyond the unfaithfulness and fear of the disciples are the image and the presence of God in them.
The disciples realized this after the resurrection of Jesus. This event gradually changed them completely. Indeed, it was in this way that they have become one with Jesus. And true indeed, they were the Father’s gift to Jesus because each of Jesus’ friends became his witnesses to all the nations.
This is the experience of Paul, who was a true witness of Jesus, as described to us in the Acts of the Apostles. What sustained Paul from those accusations and persecutions was his friendship with the Lord and the friendship he developed with the other believers of Jesus. This is how the Lord himself assured Paul and told him, “Take courage.” The Lord stood by him. This is friendship!
We, too, are the Father’s gift to Jesus. As gifts, we are very precious to Jesus because we are his friends. We may also find ourselves weak, fearful and insecure like the disciples, but remember, Jesus will never surrender on us because he sees something beyond our weaknesses and fears. Jesus sees himself in us!
As Jesus wishes that we may be one with him to see his glory, we are invited to remain firm in our faith and conviction as Christians. But, when we find ourselves going away from Jesus, let us come to him again, to come closer to him. It is only in being with him that we too shall find our true peace and comfort.
Today, let us be grateful of the friendship we have with Jesus and of the friendship we have developed with other people. Like Jesus, we may also see the person of Jesus in our friends, to see Jesus beyond the imperfection and weaknesses of our friends. Take courage, then, because we have friends. Kabay pa.
It was in the summer of 1972 when the Ordinary Council assigned me to Dumaguete as assistant in our Perpetual Help parish after returning from a year’s post-graduate course in Chicago. This short stint was an experience I welcomed, a change to active pastoral ministry after ten unbroken years as teacher and director in our minor seminaries in Iloilo and Cebu. The missions (Redemptorist parochial missions) was a ministry that had attracted me to the Redemptorist Congregation whose priests were popularly known as “mga Paring Misyon” although there were other foreign missionaries in the country. After just two years fully engaging in the parochial missions side by side with our Irish missionaries, I was without warning assigned to teach and then be director of our minor seminary. Teaching or directing minor seminaries was never my first love, although in time I got to adjust and even to live happily with the change. But still, any chance I got during the summer vacation, I would go out and join the mission teams in the rural areas for direct involvement in their mission ministry.
So when I got assigned as assistant in the parish in Dumaguete, it gave me breathing space from academic to pastoral work. While in this work I worked with the parish team. This was a full time lay team newly recruited, the very first full-time lay team in the vice-province. (Note: the first full-time laycollaborators team in the vice-province was here in the parish, contrary to the usual belief that it was with the missions that the first full-time lay team wasorganized.) When I arrived in Dumaguete, the acting parish priest, Fr. Fonso Walsh, upon my asking him what I was to do there, just said,” go with the parish team.”
The team composed of three women and one lay man, was waiting for me and just didn’t know what to do with themselves. So, I suggested we go around the parish on a getting-to-know and getting to be known routine. We selected three pilot areas in barrio Pulantubig, which we called Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3,to set up as the beginnings of small communities. At that time, the term BEC and its program in the local Church were hardly known. We started going house to house and started gathering them wherever we could gather them, since not all these “small communities” had chapels. We started to move away from the traditional idea of just the parish priest visiting a barrio for mass and disappearing forthwith. We spent all our waking hours visiting them in their homes, mission visitation style. When we met them in the designated meeting place, we had reflections and exercises for building up the community spirit. We had separate sessions with the youth who were more eager to be “organized”. We had no community masses until after some months, when a more cohesive spirit would have developed. The community liturgy got underway then.
It was not ripe yet to start action for justice. That was to come later At this time, we focused more on developmental rather than liberational community activities. We ourselves as Church pastoral workers were hardly touched by the challenge of the ministry for social justice.
Limited as our knowledge and practice were to community –building and “developmental” orientation were, we continued our day-to-day pastoral ministry of house visitation and group reflections with the residents of the organized zones.
Some five months after we started this community building work, our parish team got an unexpected boost from heaven: the entrance of three pre-novitiate candidates into our circle.
This turn of events is a story unto itself. It happened when the vocation-director of the vice-province, Fr. Noel Bennet was looking around the vice-province for a community that would welcome these candidates into their midst until they were to enter the novitiate in a few months. Normally young men interested in becoming Redemptorist priests would be sent to our minor seminary in Cebu. But Fr. Noel felt that the three young men he had among the applicants would be too old to be sent to the minor seminary which was the formation program for mostly high school boys. The applicants Fr. Noel had on hand were either college graduates or under-graduates. The stage of formation for them would have been a “postulancy” program. But at that time, the vice-province did not have a postulancy program.
So, Fr. Noel ended his search for a “home” for his candidates by leaving them in Dumaguete community with me as their guide or, in effect postulancy director, without being formally assigned. I ended up being director to Jovencio (Ven) Ma, Wilfredo (Fred) Jundis and Jose (Joe) Roca. I would have them accompany me and the parish team in our community building apostolate in the three zones. At the same time, I would hold three sessions with them each week on learning about the Redemptorist life and tradition.
We followed this informal program for more than three months. During these months, we were able to work together – the lay workers and these pre-novitiate candidates, together with the youth of the organized zones who had become willing and active parish collaborators. The three young men, by being with us in our parish rounds day by day had developed a good rapport with the team and the parishioners. But more important was that the three pre-novitiate candidates had grown in the spirit of the Redemptorist missionaries.
With all these active collaborators working with a team, our work proceeded fast. From the three organized zones, we had extended the community building work to four other zones: one more in Barrio Pulantubig, two in Barrio Bunao and one in Barrio Motong, these four new zones becoming Zones, 4, 5, 6, and 7. Our three pre-novitiate candidates and the parish team got eager help from the youth of the organized Zones
Before long, the summer break would be upon us. It would be time for the three pre-novitiate candidates to start preparing for entrance to the novitiate. At the same time, I was also asked to take up a new assignment – as Prefect of Students (that is, of our major seminarians) in Davao.
Two weeks before the summer break, we decided to hold a general mission in the seven organized zones. The idea was to strengthen the spiritual-faith dimension of the community spirit that had been built up in the small communities in the organized zones. This would eventually be the nucleus of the BECs in the parish. The result of the ten months we had spent in building up the spirit of Christian community in the zones was an almost palpable feeling of family and community among the people, young and old, in the organized zones.
The mission concluded with a field mass in the St. Paul’s College grounds in the morning and a program in the evening. The youth and parents and lolas eagerly took part in it. Months after the mission, people would talk and reminisce nostalgically of those Pulantubig-Bunao-Motong days.
Short as my assignment in Dumaguete parish was, lasting less than a year, I treasure my apostolic assignment there.
First, even though I was no longer on a mission assignment there, I found that one can exercise a parish ministry as a mission just as those assigned on mission teams are doing. It was an experience that brought me as close to the common people as I had experienced on my mission assignments. It helped me work closely as mission partner with a lay team.
Secondly, my Dumaguete experience re-introduced me to the formation ministry in a way different from my assignment in a minor seminary. Guiding the pre-novitiate candidates in their pre-novitiate preparation helped me give formation a missionary experience while at the same time keeping in touch with our Congregation’s spirit and tradition.
Looking back on that assignment, I find that in those short months, we had sown the seeds of two programs; the BEC program and the postulancy program. In those days, the BEC “way of being Church”was hardly known in the local Church in the Visayas although the promoting of BEC was also starting in Mindanao and in some parts of Luzon. On the other hand, the postulancy program would only become formally established in the then, Vice-Province of Cebu, after that Dumaguete experience.
You never know what learning-surprises God has in store for you as you turn the next corner of your Redemptorist journey.
How blessed really are those who give than those who merely receive? Most of us actually think that we are more blessed when we receive something. It is wonderful to be a recipient of some goods from others because we don’t have to exert effort but only to open our hands. How nice would that be!
Yet, there are interesting different attitudes between a constant receiver and a generous giver. People who are constantly receiving gifts, or those who demand to receive may they be material or not would tend to have low self-esteem, or insecure and unsatisfied with what they have already in this life. Thus, if this becomes our attitude, we too grow to become self-entitled and demanding towards others for our own benefit and advantage. Because of these attitudes, when we become people who constantly seek the generosity of others, we also tend to keep things for ourselves alone but ungenerous to others.
These affect how we see ourselves, believing that we don’t have enough compared to others. We also become negative in our dealings and relationships with other people because we are inclined to see what is only ugly and unpleasant for us. And so, when people like these, initiate to give something to others, their gifts or good deeds have always hidden motives. This means that we only give because we expect something bigger in return. This attitude rather seeks what is only good and comfortable for ourselves because at the very first place, we are motivated by a selfish desire.
On the other hand, persons who are truly generous of their gifts, of their presence and of their person, are confident. Yet, it does not mean that their confidence comes from the many things that they have acquired in this life. This confidence rather comes from faith because that person truly believes in God’s generosity and providence. That is why, a true generous person is always grateful. Yes, generosity springs forth from a heart that is grateful to God and the act of giving is a response of a grateful heart.
This is what St. Paul told us in the Acts of the Apostles – “It is better to give than to receive.” Paul was called by Jesus and was given freedom. It led Paul to faith and his faith made him grateful and thus, a generous person expressed in giving himself for the proclamation of the Good News. He was not after silver or gold, to enrich himself but to give generously his presence for the people to whom he was sent as a minister. Indeed, this is an expression that giving is a blessing.
Such act of giving that grants blessing reminds us too of St. Justin, a martyr and philosopher. It was by giving witness to faith that he too gave himself even if it would cost him his life. He never wavered even when there was a threat to his life. That act of St. Justin was founded on his confidence and faith in the Risen Jesus.
This has been expressed by Jesus in the Gospel. Jesus showed his gratitude to the Father because of the love that sustained him in his ministry. Jesus’ prayer for his followers was his generous act, asking the Father to protect and bless them. This generous action of Jesus culminated in giving up his life on the cross for our sake while the resurrection is the Father’s generous action for our sake because the Father is grateful for the Son.
This is God’s invitation for us today.
We are, first, called to be truly grateful with what we have, to be confident with what we are enjoying which includes material things, people and relationships, talents, skills and our very “person” too.
Second, let us allow our heart to grow in gratitude and confidence in God’s generosity that will hopefully mold us to become “blessed givers.” Remember, what we can give is not limited to material things, but even our talents, capacities, knowledge and our presence to people who are truly in need.
Indeed, blessed are the generous givers because they portray God’s character and make God’s presence ever more present. Kabay pa.
St. Luke described to us the visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth. He included this story in his Gospel to bring a message to a particular Christian community to which Luke was in-charge. What we can learn from this particular passage of the Gospel of Luke is the role of Mary in the Christian Community.
Even at that early stage of the Christian faith, Mary had already become a mother and a model to every disciple of the Lord. Mary who received the Lord in her womb and in her whole life manifested in her actions the wonders of God done unto her. She became a model of charity and service to others which is an expression of bringing the Lord to others. This is clear enough in Mary’s willing heart to help her cousin, Elizabeth.
The exchange of greetings between these two women was the amazing thing we find in the Gospel. Luke described to us how the baby in the womb of Elizabeth leaped with joy upon hearing the voice of Mary. Mary, the THEOTOKOS or bearer of God, brought such great joy to Elizabeth and to her baby in the womb.
Mary’s visit was certainly God’s visitation to Elizabeth, to her baby and to Zechariah. God visited them through Mary. Definitely, Elizabeth was filled with gratitude not just to Mary but to God especially. This is what we find in her greetings, “blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” This tells us that even the unborn child can feel the presence of God. An unborn child can also give assurance of God’s presence to others. This is wonderful!
Thus, on this feast of the Visitation, we who are disciples of the Lord are reminded to be like Mary, to be charitable in our words and actions, to be aware of those who are in need of assistance, to be at the service of others especially those who are most in need of our help. In that way, we bring the Lord to them, we let others feel God’s presence through us.
Each of us has that capacity to bring God’s presence to others. The Lord is with us, he is with you and with me. The Lord is in our midst, as the Book of the Prophet Zephaniah tells us.
As Christians we are called to make a stand and to be aware of what is happening around us – not just within our small community but also in the wider picture of our society. It means that we are called to be socially aware and not to remain indifferent to the difficulties of our sisters and brothers. That is why, when we are indifferent to the difficulties of others, there is surely something wrong with our Christian life. It is good then to ask ourselves, “how socially aware am I to the plight of others, or am I totally indifferent and unmoved by the sufferings of others?”
And so, in concrete terms and in small ways, a challenge is given to us. It would be good then to remember those people whom we have not visited for a long time. Visit them if possible. Remember also those people we know who will surely need our help, or recognize the people around us who need help from us in one way or another. In hope, we may be able to let them feel God’s presence through us, through our generous words and service. Kabay pa.
People who are severely ill, those who are haunted by their traumatic experiences, and those who suffer chronic depression would mostly agonize the feeling of being alone and lonely. At the height of this pandemic, when infections were so high, the pandemic left many individuals to that feeling of being alone. The isolations and lockdowns, no movements and Enhanced Community Quarantines increased the anxiety and fear to many of us.
To feel alone, indeed, is a terrible feeling. It makes a day no matter how bright it would be, to be so dark. Even though many people will surround us physically, this feeling detaches us from their presence. This explains how a person who is alone and lonely would compensate that feeling by having many distractions as a way of coping and entertaining oneself.
Yet, this causes people to be so sad and depressed. How much more if physically people will leave us alone? If someone we love and so dear to you would just go away and leave us? Then, this would be a horrible feeling.
People who work away from their family would also feel being alone. They cannot help it but work from a far to give more opportunities for their family and for the children especially. Yet, as a consequence, they have to endure such loneliness for their sake in the case of migrant workers.
In the Gospel today, Jesus reminded us of his conviction of the presence of his Father. Jesus knew that his disciples would abandon him when he will undergo his passion. The disciples will retreat and hide because of fear even though that would mean that Jesus will be left alone to suffer and die.
However, Jesus was filled with confidence that his Father will never abandon him. Hence, the Father was there with Jesus even at the cross where Jesus felt being abandoned.
Today, Jesus wants us to have the same conviction and confidence. Indeed, we are never alone. The Lord is with us, always with us. This is the promise of Jesus to us today.
Thus, when we feel alone, let it be known that we are never alone. When a terrible sickness hits us, when a traumatic experience haunts us, when depression bothers us, remember, God is with us.
Those of us who are away from home and away from our families, Jesus comforts us that he is always with us. Today, we can say, “I am not alone.” Kabay pa.
A DOSE OF GOD TODAY 