Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Jude Thaddeus, Naga City | v.2, n.37 | 3 - 9 September 2017
MISSIONARY, NOT MERCENARY
I
mmediately after Peter’s confession, Jesus begins to explain that it is of divine necessity that he goes to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, one of the oldest cities in the world, the seat of both religious and political power during the time of Jesus. “be killed” and “be raised.” Jesus is a victim. Jesus explains further that He The evil forces will put him to is a pilgrim, not a tourist. He is death, but His Father will raise not going to Jerusalem to change SUNDAY REFLECTION him up. Here we remember money at the Temple, to picnic at the plight of the poor, the the Mount of Olives, or to swim at victims of the present government’s war the pool of Bethesda. Rather, He is on drugs. They are murdered by evil men; going there to complete his divine mission, but hopefully, their creator will raise to suffer and die from the hands of the them up. religious leaders and their political allies. His However, Jesus addresses us all: “If you mission is to save the lives of sinners. want to follow me, deny yourself. Take Although a holy city, Jerusalem becomes up your cross and follow me. For whoever unholy. The elders, the high priests and the chooses to save his life will lose it, but the scribes who compose the Sanhedrin decide one who loses his life, for my sake, will the fate of Jesus. The words of Caiaphas find it.” were powerful enough to put Jesus to death. The Church is not called to survive He says, “It is better to have one man die but to thrive. Our inaction makes us for the people than to let the whole nation accomplices of such evil. Silence in today’s be destroyed.” They, who are supposed to killings is not an option. To cry is not be the protector of the people, become enough. Let us put ourselves in the shoes of the plotters and killers of the Christ. The the victims, the orphaned, the widowed disciples walked with Him to Jerusalem and lose our convenient life. Jesus wants hardly comprehending what Jesus was us to denounce the wanton killings, just foretelling them. as he denounced the injustices during Manila is the capital of the Philippines, His time. one of the oldest cities in the country, and Jesus did not only carry the cross. He the seat of both political and religious power died on the cross that we may have life to from the colonial period to the present. the fullest. We are not only called to carry However, just like Jerusalem, it becomes the cross but to die on the cross as well, the center of summary executions. Many so that the vulnerable may have a good life. are murdered by the very persons who are Indeed, we are called to promote life, supposed to protect their lives. not death; to be missionaries, not “That he would be killed and be raised mercenaries. 4 — Fr. Wilmer Joseph S. Tria on the third day.” Note the passive verbs
giya sa prayer meeting
Mateo 18:15-20
Domingo 23, Ord. Panahon (Taon A)
“K
un magkasalà an saimong tugang, dumana, sudyaa na kamo sanang duwa.” Maraot an hiling ta sa mga parasudyâ. Mas buot tang magtagò nin raot na buot kisa magsudyâ. Alagad, bako ini an katukduan ni Jesus. Bakong magayon sa daghan asin sa salud LECTIO DIVINA an pagtagò nin raot na buot. An dapat itago iyo an rahay, bako an raot. Sa pagsudyâ, ipinapahiling mo saiya kun sain si saiyang salâ. An katuyuhan iyo na magkasinabutan kamo asin magin siring sa magtugang. Kun ako magsudyâ, ano an sakong katuyuhan?
“Alagad, kun pati an simbahan dai nya dangugon, ibilang mo syang hentil o kobrador nin buwis.” Buot ni Jesus na gibuhon an gabos na paagi tanganing makipag-ulian sa kapwa. Dakul kaiwal an simbahan. Minumuda asin rinaratakan an simbahan kaidtong panahon sagkod ngunyan. An dyablo naggigibo kan gabos na paagi tanganing magkabaranga kita. Kaya tinutukduan kita ni Jesus. Magdara nin duwa o tulong saksi. Kun dai pa, darhon sa simbahan. Kun dai pa, saka na sana isiblag. Guràno kahalaga an ‘tugang’ ko sa parokya o sa prayer group?
“Ta kun sain igwang duwa o tulong natitipon sa sakuyang ngaran, duman ako sa tahaw ninda.” An Dyos Emmanuel! Sya an Dyos na yaon sato. Mayo sya sa ibang planeta. Yaon sya sa satong kinàban. Yaon sya sa satong parokya. Yaon sya sa satong pamilya. Yaon sya sa satong puso. Kun kita magkasararo sa pagpamibi asin pareho an satong hagadon, itatao nya iyan sa sato.
Ano an mahalagang ipapamibi ko ngunyan kaiba an sakong prayer group? 4