Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Jude Thaddeus, Naga City | v.3, n.10 | issn 2599-5030 | 11 to 17 March 2018
giya sa prayer meeting
PEOPLE OF THE LIGHT
T
he gospel for this fourth Sunday of Lent begins by saying: “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” (Jn 3:14-15) It is quite queer that Jesus Christ The ancient Filipino term for God— crucified is compared to a serpent Bathala is a Sanskrit word which when hanged on a cross. For the dissected are three words in SUNDAY Israelites in Jesus’ time, it was easy fact: Ba for babae or woman; tha REFLECTION to understand this since they for ilaw or light; and, la for would know the story of the lalaki or man. Bathala literally means ilaw sa bronze serpent which was hanged by gitna ng babae at ng lalaki or light in the Moses on a pole that whosoever gazed at it middle of the woman and the man. In the would be saved from death (see Num Filipino language: Kapag ang lalaki at babae 21:4-9). ay gumagawa ng kasalanan yan ay ginagawa sa Today the cross is the symbol for kadiliman—sa kadiliman ng kanilang mga Christians but the crucifix (the cross with konsensya (When a man and woman commit the crucified Christ) is the symbol for sin, they do it in the dark—in the darkness Catholics. It is a common sight that the of their consciences).” crucifix is sparingly used by many people This fits well as a reflection with the for varying motives but the correct closing of the gospel reading for this fourth purpose is mentioned in this Sunday’s Sunday of Lent, thus: “And this is the Gospel—that Christ nailed to the cross verdict, that the light came into the world, when gazed at with the eyes of faith offers but people preferred darkness to light, salvation for all. Because of our because their works were evil. For everyone unworthiness, we do not deserve the love who does wicked things hates the light and of God, but it is God’s sheer love of does not come toward the light, so that his humankind that He sent His Son. works might not be exposed. But whoever Jesus became human in order that lives the truth comes to the light, so that his humans may be like Him—like Him who works may be clearly seen as done in God.” does not count our misgivings but rather (Jn 3:19-21) gives us room for salvation by means of His Indeed as Filipino Christians we should passion, death, resurrection, and be a people of the light—a light to shine for ascension—the Paschal Mystery. the truth. 4 — Ramon L. Almoneda, PhD
For God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but so that through him the world might be saved. { jn 3:17 }
Juan 12:20-23
Domingo 4, Kwaresma (Taon B)
“K
agurangnan, buot ming mahiling si Jesus.” Dawa mga Griego naghahanap ki Jesus. Siring kaini sya kabantog, dahilan kan pagkauri kan mga pariseo asin eskriba. An saiyang magayon na dangog nakaabot na sa luwas kan LECTIO nasyon. Asin DIVINA naghahanap sindang paagi na makarani ki Jesus. Dinulok ninda si Felipe na Griego an ngaran asin tibaad may mga kadugo na mga Griego. Asin si Felipe nagpatabang ki Andres na mas ugos ki Jesus. Sisay an nagpapatabang sako na makarani ki Jesus? Ano an ginibo ko?
“Kun an tipasi nin trigo na nahulog sa daga dai magadan, padagos na iyo sana iyan.” Sisay an dapat paglingkudan? Sisay dapat an bida? An naglilingkod sa sadiri dai magdadanay. An nagpapabida kan sadiri magpupuli sa kasusupgan. Ipinahiling ni Jesus an katotoohan kan kasabihan. Naglingkod sya bako sa sadiri kundi sa mga api, dawa ini magdara saiya sa kagadanan. Ini man an ginibo kan mga banal na nagsunod sa saiyang buhay.
Kasuarin ako nagpabida asin napasupog?
“An buot maglingkod sako, magsunod sako...” Dakul na klase an paglingkod. May naglilingkod na nagpapabida asin nagpapabayad. Alagad, an sabi ni Jesus, an buot maglingkod saiya dapat magsunod saiya. Sain? Sa dalan pasiring sa kalbaryo, bakong sa dalan pasiring sa pagpabida asin kabantugan. Kun sa satong paglingkod o ministry, kita nagigin bantog, dapat maghapot-hapot na kita kun tama pa an satong direksyon sa buhay. Ano an pinakamamundo kong ekspiryensya sa paglingkod ki Jesus? Tàno? 4